After a down year in 2014, Stanford bounced right back to the top of the Pac-12 in 2015, earning the conference's berth in the Rose Bowl. The Cardinal also have the Pac-12's top recruiting class, as the 2016 group ranks No. 11 nationally.
Instant impact freshman: Stanford has built up enough depth at most positions where there isn’t a clear path to playing time for its top ESPN 300 prospects, including quarterback K.J. Costello, tight end Kaden Smith and offensive tackle Clark Yarbrough. But defensive tackle Mike Williams, already 6-foot-2, 305 pounds, has the size necessary to perhaps help fill the void created by Shittu’s departure.