Key Stats:
Sumner High School|Sumner, WA
Athlete|5'11"|185 pounds
Rivals Rank: Four stars|#10 Athlete
Key Offers:
Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, Washington
Profile:
Connor Wedington was a long time Washington commit who seemed destined to stay home and play for the Huskies until something happened late in the process that called everything into question. A few weeks ago he abruptly announced he was decommitting from Washington, cryptically citing an opportunity he couldn't pass up, something most referred to a Stanford admission. He then released a final six, but recruiting observers knew what was coming, and earlier this week he ended the suspense with perhaps the coolest announcement video you've ever seen. (It's worth one minute of your time if you haven't already seen it.) Wedington will no doubt benefit from this decision, but so will the Cardinal. He's listed as an athlete, but I can't imagine he'll play anywhere but running back when he gets to Stanford. During his senior season he rushed for 1,522 yards and scored 25 touchdowns while racking up a gaudy 11.4 yards per carry. A quick look at his senior highlights (below) reveals a runner who's strong enough to run between the tackles but has the speed (4.48 40) to disappear once he reaches the second level. He's definitely a difference maker. It should also be noted that Wedington, along with fellow Stanford recruit Ryan Johnson, is one of six finalists for the Watkins Award, given annually to the top high school African-American football player in America. Stanford recruits Frank Buncom IV and Bobby Okereke won the award the previous two seasons.
Outlook:
Even with the departure of Christian McCaffrey, running back is still a position of strength on the Stanford offense. Bryce Love will be the primary back, with short-yardage help from Cameron Scarlett, and redshirt freshman Trevor Speights will likely get some carries as well. Even so, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if Wedington found his way onto the field in selected situations, similar to how Love was used in 2015.
[Photo Credit: Drew Perine/Tacoma News Tribune]