Stanford closes out September with two new football commits

The Class of 2021 for the Stanford Cardinal picked up two big-time commitments over the last month, securing the services of DE Zach Buckey and DE Anthony Franklin.

Buckey and Franklin rank as the nation’s 65th- and 87th-best weakside defensive ends for this class.

Buckey stands at 6’5, 250 pounds and played his high school football at Garces Memorial High School in Bakersfield. He’s ranked as the state of California’s 98th-best prospect overall and had at least 25 total scholarship offers this circuit.

Franklin stands at 6’4, 240 pounds and is the state of Arizona’s 24th-best prospect, playing his high school football at powerhouse Pinnacle High School in Phoenix.

Franklin had at least 15 other offers to choose from but chose the Card.

For Buckey, it was a family connection that likely sold the deal as his father played for the Card from 1992-1995 and played four seasons in the NFL, three with the Miami Dolphins and one with the San Francisco 49ers.

He held offers from multiple big-name schools as well as the majority of the Ivy League programs as well.

For Franklin, it was the fit on the defense with Stanford that sold him, telling 247Sports that this was his ideal fit at the collegiate level.

Both players committing now gives Stanford a total of 13 commits for the Card Class of 2021, a list of players that now includes seven defensive players and the first two of which are on the defensive line. Buckey and Franklin join safeties Josh Moore, Mitch Leigber, Jaden Slocum and Caleb Ellis as well as cornerback Jimmy Wyrick on the defensive side for this class.

Congratulations, gentlemen! Welcome to The Farm!