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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.
Welcome home, Aaron‼️
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @Armitage_aaron
⏰ » 4:02 a.m.
» Ajax, Ont.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/8NIO3rPeMf
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/pmAqyAKbvf
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.
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @jayysonraines
⏰ » 4:06 a.m.
» West Orange, N.J.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/9xesgBZGpu
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/UaJsADiUiM
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.
Georgia The Farm
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @CWeselman
⏰ » 4:13 a.m.
» Atlanta, Ga.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/srC9R1tjq3
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/f40wr3cnYQ
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.
Our next #StanfordMan
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @Jtslocum_5
⏰ » 4:27 a.m.
» Alpharetta, Ga.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/RUdsR4dJdp
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/L1nsY8DLM5
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
» @Armitage_aaron
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
» A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and one of the best defensive ends in the nation.#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/lUml3rhtq0
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.
Welcome to The Farm, Shield‼️
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @ShieldTaylor1
⏰ » 5:03 a.m.
» Alexandria, La.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/mWlz4WtbBG
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford" pic.twitter.com/2pEshBO8Ik
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.
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @Calebellisjr
⏰ » 5:06 a.m.
» McKinney, Texas
ℹ️ » https://t.co/Uru7qOGKXO
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/62NK4TzYAb
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.
» @Calebellisjr
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
» A safety from the Lone Star State, Ellis is a ball hawk who isn’t afraid to lay the lumber.
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2Vzu08pahe
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.
Welcome to Stanford, Jack
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @JackLeyrer
⏰ » 5:39 a.m.
» Dallas, Texas
ℹ️ » https://t.co/yH8e6o66sS
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/iIdy2BVbWS
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.
Welcome home, Anthony
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @afranklin5754
⏰ » 6:19 a.m.
» Phoenix, Ariz.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/HjRi889Cny
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/PZZJebMoYG
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.
Welcome to the family, Coco‼️
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @LukrichCoco
⏰ » 6:44 a.m.
» Heber City, Utah
ℹ️ » https://t.co/RJn9Y6ZqjM
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YSbdVWpcxj
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!
So Cal Nor Cal
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @mitchleigber
⏰ » 7:10 a.m.
» Laguna Hills, Calif.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/8mGDeVOZVo
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/PvhojRhpJT
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.
Welcome to Stanford, Zach
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @BuckeyZach
⏰ » 7:11 a.m.
» Bakersfield, Calif.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/q4Dr9V7Kxk
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/0UIJbqEhcn
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.
Welcome to the family, Brendon‼️
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @Brendonbarrow_
⏰ » 7:35 a.m.
» Etobicoke, Ont.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/9J8xCmpezF
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/u0hoXyypX6
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.
Welcome to the family, Ari‼️
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @ari_patu
⏰ » 7:53 a.m.
» Folsom, Calif.
ℹ️ » https://t.co/WUfvKIQMZp
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/OaqZrx4mFV
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.
— Road Dogs (@StanfordFball) December 16, 2020
✍️ » @JimmyWyrick21
⏰ » 9:16 a.m.
» Dallas, Texas
ℹ️ » https://t.co/nYBwmxPHKZ
#CardClass21 | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/VgB0bKXHV7
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.