National Signing Day: Commitment tracker, news, analysis and more

The Stanford Cardinal are putting together quite a class for the Class of 2021 and with the Early Signing Day period here, the players are signing their Letters of Intent and committing to the Cardinal in a flurry.

Here is the latest news, analysis and commitments for the Cardinal on Early Signing Day:

Aaron Armitage is in the books early!

The highest-ranked recruit for Stanford was in early, 4:02 am local time, sending his National Letter of Intent to the Cardinal on Signing Day.

The 14th-ranked defensive end for this entire class is also the state of New Jersey’s second-best player according to the 247Sports Composite ranking. At 6’4, 242 pounds, Armitage also stands as the highest-rated commit in the class, and knocking out their ‘best player’ on the board early is a huge win.

WR Jayson Raines is next up, also from New Jersey

Making it two signings within a few minutes from one another, WR Jayson Raines made it two for two from the state of New Jersey, sending in his letter of intent at 4:06 am local time.

Raines is the state of New Jersey’s 27th-best player and a top overall receiver in the class. He’s 6’4, 195 pounds and is a great get from the east coast.

Nation’s No. 3 punter is a Cardinal

Connor Weselman made it official, signing his Letter of Intent to join the Cardinal at 4:13 am local time.

From Georgia, Weselman is the nation’s third-ranked punter for this class and has incredibly favorable reviews across the board of kicker-specific metrics. Weselman made it official from Atlanta and Westminster School.

Another Georgian off the board

Jaden Slocum made it two straight from Georgia, signing his LOI just moments after Weselman.

Slocum, a longtime Card commit, made it official and joins as the nation’s 49th-best safety prospect and a top player from the state of Georgia, hailing from power high school Alpharetta.

Aaron Armitage gets some more love

Louisiana’s No. 1 TE is officially a Stanford Man

Shield Taylor sent in his LOI early Wednesday, meaning the state of Louisiana’s No. 1 TE is officially a Card.

Taylor is a fullback/tight end threat from Alexandria Senior in Alexandria, Louisiana and represents a big get for the class, as his football IQ is unmatched on the field and in the classroom.

Caleb Ellis is in

Ellis, hailing from McKinney, Texas, is in, signing his LOI at 5:06 am local time.

Ellis ranks as a top-100 overall safety prospect and a top-160 prospect from Texas. His style of play fits right in with the hard-nosed defensive backfield at Stanford.

Jack Leyrer makes it two straight from Texas

We’re sensing a theme here today as it went New Jersey, New Jersey, Georgia, Georgia, Texas, Texas in terms of commitments. Leyrer made it two straight from Texas as the big man from Dallas made it official at 5:39 am local time.

Leyrer is an All-District player from Highland Park and the big man ranks as a top-65 offensive tackle prospect in the country as well as the 105th-best player from the state.

Anthony Franklin signs LOI

Franklin, a three-star defensive from powerhouse Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona sent his LOI at 6:19 am local time, becoming the first player west of Texas to sign to the Card Class of 2021.

Franklin is a top-25 player in the state of Arizona and the 86th-best defensive end prospect in the class.

Coco Lukrich from Utah is in

Lukrich signed his LOI at 6:44 am local time, heading to The Farm from Heber City, Utah.

Lukrich committed just a month ago and made it official from Park City High School by signing his LOI to join the Cardinal. He’s the state of Utah’s 14th-best player and a top-70 guard prospect for this class.

California safety Mitch Leigber is in

Officially official, Leigber is a Card!

The big safety prospect from Laguna Hills is heading to The Farm and joins the defensive backfield as the state of California’s 41st-best player and the country’s 35th-best safety prospect.

Zach Buckey joins the Card Class ‘21

Buckey, another Californian, made it official just after Leigber, sending his LOI in just a minute after.

Buckey is the 99th-best player in the state, hailing from Bakersfield and Garces Memorial High School. At 6’5, 255, he ranks as a top-70 defensive end prospect nationally.

All-purpose back Brendon Barrow signs on

Barrow, from Clearwater, Florida and Clearwater Academy International is originally from Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.

One of the top backs in this recruiting cycle, however, Barrow is ranked as the 14th-best all-purpose back for the class of 2021 and played his high school football in Florida.

Potential QB1 of the Future is in — Ari Patu signs

For awhile, Ari Patu was the Cardinal’s highest-ranked recruit for the Class of 2021. Even with Armitage ranking as a ‘higher-ranked recruit’ than Patu, the fact remains, Patu’s importance to this team will be exponentially higher than anyone else in the class.

Stanford’s potential QB of the Future is officially on the board after signing his LOI. Patu ranks as the country’s 14th-best dual-threat quarterback and one of the top overall players from the state of California. And he’s officially a member of the Cardinal.

CB Jimmy Wyrick signs on at Stanford

Wyrick made it official with his signed LOI as the three-star cornerback is joining the Cardinal from Dallas, Texas.

Wyrick is a top-100 player from the state of Texas and ranks as the country’s 54th-best cornerback prospect for this class. A big get not only for the defensive side of the ball but to be able to pull a top-ranked recruit from Texas yet again is huge.