Stanford football released its season-opening depth chart on Monday morning with few surprises, as head coach David Shaw had already announced several winners of position battles last Thursday.
The main surprise was the tight end position, where it appears that defensive lineman convert Charlie Hopkins, a rising junior, beat out fifth-year senior Davis Dudchock for the “F” tight end starting job. Hopkins “OR” sophomore Luke Kaumatule is listed at the starter at tight end, but the coaching staff already announced that Kaumatule was the team’s “Y” tight end. (Last year, when standouts Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo were the tight end starters, they were also listed on the same line.)
Kevin Hogan is listed as the starting quarterback, with fellow redshirt sophomore Evan Crower as the backup.
At tailback, Anthony Wilkerson “OR” Tyler Gaffney is listed at the starter, as Shaw has said that the two seniors will lead the team’s running back by committee this season. Ryan Hewitt will block for the Cardinal as the starting fullback for a third consecutive season.
Juniors Ty Montgomery and Devon Cajuste are the team’s starting receivers, with Michael Rector and Kelsey Young listed as the second-stringers and Kodi Whitfield and Jordan Pratt behind them.
The team’s offensive line, as expected, will consist of tackles Andrus Peat and Cameron Fleming, guards David Yankey and Kevin Danser and center Khalil Wilkes. Four members of Stanford’s elite 2012 offensive line recruiting class cracked the two-deep: Peat, Kyle Murphy (left and right tackle), Joshua Garnett (left guard) and Johnny Caspers (right guard). Caspers is the only one who did not play in 2012.
Eleven of Stanford’s 12 defensive starters are upperclassmen, with sophomore corner Alex Carter being the lone exception. Wayne Lyons will start for the first time across from Carter, while Jordan Richards and Ed Reynolds will look to build off their solid 2012 season as the team’s top safeties. Devon Carrington is listed as the backup to both Lyons and Reynolds.
As expected, fifth-year senior Trent Murphy, junior James Vaughters, fifth-year senior Shayne Skov and redshirt junior A.J. Tarpley will start at linebacker, while redshirt junior Henry Anderson, redshirt junior David Parry and fifth-year senior Ben Gardner will hold down the defensive line.
Kicker Jordan Williamson and punter Ben Rhyne will start on special teams, with Montgomery listed as the primary kick returner. Four candidates (Montgomery, Whitfield, Keanu Nelson and Barry J. Sanders) are still listed as punt returners.
Click here for the complete depth chart.
Contact Joseph Beyda at jbeyda “at” stanford.edu.