2015_Stanford_Cardinal_football_team

2015 Stanford Cardinal football team

2015 Stanford Cardinal football team

American college football season

The 2015 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal were led by fifth-year head coach David Shaw. They played their home games at Stanford Stadium and were members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.

Quick Facts Stanford Cardinal football, Pac-12 championPac-12 North Division championRose Bowl champion ...
More information Conf, Overall ...

In 2015, the Cardinal were the champions of the Pac-12. After finishing in first place in the North Division, they beat USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game by a score of 41–22.[1] They defeated Iowa 45–16 in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2016.

The Cardinal finished the season ranked #3 in the final Coaches Poll, their highest final ranking in the history of that poll. They were similarly ranked #3 in the final AP Poll, their highest final ranking in 75 years, following the 1940 national championship season.

Personnel

Coaching staff

More information Name, Position ...

Roster

2015 Stanford Cardinal roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  5 Christian McCaffrey – sophomore (6'0, 197)
  • 15 Reagan Williams Freshman (6'3, 218)
  • 19 Ryan Gaertner Junior (5'10, 215)
  • 20 Bryce Love Freshman (5'10, 184)
  • 22 Remound Wright – Redshirt senior (5'9, 198)
  • 25 Cameron Scarlett Freshman (6'1, 220)
  • 26 Barry J. Sanders – Redshirt junior (5'10, 191)
  • 35 Daniel Marx – sophomore (6'2, 247)
  • 42 Pat McFadden – junior (5'10, 195)

Wide receivers

  •  2 Trenton Irwin – freshman (6’2, 199)
  •  3 Michael Rector – Redshirt junior 6'1 190)
  •  4 Jay Tyler – freshman (5'8, 167)
  •  5 Kodi Whitfield – senior (6'2, 197)
  •  6 Francis Owusu – junior (6'3, 193)
  •  6 Taijuan Thomas – junior (5'10, 185)
  • 11 Dontonio Jordan – Redshirt junior (5'11, 188)
  • 13 Rollins Stallworth – Redshirt senior (6'4, 196)
  • 19 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside – freshman (6'3, 207)
  • 21 Isaiah Brandt-Sims – sophomore (5'11, 175)
  • 41 Addison Johnson – sophomore (5'9, 175)
  • 46 Sidhart Krishnamurthi – freshman (5'11, 175)
  • 81 Conner Crane – Redshirt junior (6'4, 195)
  • 85 Treyvion Foster – junior (6'1, 213)
  • 89 Devon Cajuste – Redshirt senior (6'4, 232)

Offensive guards/offensive tackles

  • 51 Joshua Garnett – senior (6'5, 317) OG
  • 54 Nick Wilson – freshman (6'3, 268) OG
  • 57 Johnny Caspers – Redshirt junior (6'4, 292) OG
  • 60 Lucas Hinds – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 290) OG
  • 62 Austin Maihen – freshman – (6'5, 280) OG
  • 64 David Bright – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 290) OG/OT
  • 66 Nick Davidson – Redshirt junior (6'7, 283) OT
  • 71 Brandon Fanaika – sophomore (6'3, 321) OG
  • 74 Brendon Austin – Redshirt senior (6'6, 304) OG
  • 75 A. T. Hall – sophomore (6'5, 278) OT
  • 76 Jack Dreyer – freshman (6'8, 286) OT
  • 77 Casey Tucker – sophomore (6'6, 305) OT
  • 78 Kyle Murphy – senior (6'7, 272) OT
  

Tight ends

  •  9 Dalton Schultz – sophomore (6'6, 239)
  • 18 Austin Hooper – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 225)
  • 80 Eric Cotton – Redshirt sophomore (6'6, 235)
  • 82 Chris Harrell – senior (6'4, 236)
  • 87 Ben Snyder – freshman (6'4, 240)
  • 88 Greg Taboada – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 235)
  • 99 Luke Kaumatule – senior (6'7, 260)

Centers

  • 52 Graham Shuler – Redshirt junior (6'4, 277)
  • 64 Brian Chaffin – freshman (6'2, 278)
  • 73 Jesse Burkett – Redshirt freshman (6'4, 288)

Defensive tackles

  • 58 David Parry – Redshirt senior
  • 79 Alex Yazdi – Redshirt junior
  • 95 Lance Callihan – Redshirt junior

Defensive ends

  •  7 Aziz Shittu – senior (6'3, 275)
  • 17 Brennan Scarlett – Redshirt senior (6'4, 265)
  • 48 Kevin Anderson – Redshirt senior (6'4, 245)
  • 55 Nate Lohn – Redshirt junior (6'3, 274)
  • 56 Wesley Annan – freshman (6'4, 285)
  • 66 Harrison Phillips – sophomore (6'4, 255)
  • 75 Jordan Watkins – Redshirt junior (6'5, 271)
  • 90 Solomon Thomas – sophomore (6'3, 256)
  • 97 Dylan Jackson – Freshman (6'6, 248)

Linebackers

  •  3 Noor Davis – Redshirt junior (6'4, 227) ILB
  •  4 Blake Martinez – senior (6'2, 238) ILB
  • 15 Jordan Perez – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 207) ILB
  • 20 Bobby Okereke – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 217) ILB
  • 27 Sean Barton – freshman (6'3, 212) ILB
  • 31 Mustafa Branch – freshman (5'11, 218) ILB
  • 32 Joey Alfieri – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 228) OLB
  • 33 Mike Tyler – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 225) OLB
  • 34 Peter Kalambayi – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 240) OLB
  • 43 Ryan Beecher– freshman (6'1, 230) ILB
  • 44 Kevin Palma – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 240) ILB
  • 47 Sam Yules – Redshirt junior (6'2, 221) ILB
  • 49 Lewis Burik– freshman (5'10, 216) ILB
  • 50 Sam Shober– Redshirt junior (6'3, 223) OLB
  • 52 Casey Toohill – freshman (6'4, 230) OLB
  • 53 Torsten Rotto – Redshirt senior (6'2, 240) OLB
  • 59 Craig Jones – Redshirt junior (6'0, 215) ILB
  • 86 Lane Veach – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 233) OLB
  

Defensive backs

  •  8 Frank Buncom – freshman (6'2, 192) CB
  • 11 Terrence Alexander – sophomore (5'10, 178) CB
  • 13 Alijah Holder – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 174) CB
  • 21 Ronnie Harris – Redshirt senior (5'10, 170) CB
  • 23 Alameen Murphy – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 185) CB
  • 24 Quenton Meeks – freshman (6'2, 195) CB
  • 38 Ra'Chard Pippens – Redshirt senior (6'2, 198) CB

Safeties

  •  2 Brandon Simmons – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 182) FS
  •  9 Ben Edwards – freshman (6'0, 191) FS
  • 22 Justin Reid – junior (6'1, 195) SS
  • 28 Denzel Franklin – Redshirt sophomore (6'0, 198) SS
  • 29 Dallas Lloyd – Redshirt junior (6'3, 209) SS
  • 45 Calvin Chandler – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 215) SS

Punters/Kickers

  • 14 Jake Bailey – freshman (6'2 186) P
  • 27 Charlie Beall – freshman (6'2 215) K
  • 34 Conrad Ukropina – Redshirt junior (6'1 185) K
  • 47 Alex Robinson – Redshirt sophomore (6'0 200) P

Long snappers

  • 67 Reed Miller – senior (6'2, 222)
  • 68 C.J. Keller – sophomore (6'3, 215)

Terms:

  • Freshman – A player in his first year.
  • Sophomore – A player in his second year.
  • Junior – A player in his third year.
  • Senior – A player in his fourth year.
  • Redshirt Redshirt – A player who sat out a previous season.
Source: 2015 Stanford Cardinal Football Roster

Schedule

More information Date, Time ...

Game summaries

At Northwestern

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team

UCF

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 UCF Knights football team

At #6 USC

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 USC Trojans football team and Stanford–USC football rivalry

At Oregon State

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Oregon State Beavers football team

Arizona

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Arizona Wildcats football team

#18 UCLA

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 UCLA Bruins football team

Washington

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Washington Huskies football team

At Washington State

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Washington State Cougars football team

At Colorado

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Colorado Buffaloes football team

Oregon

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Oregon Ducks football team

California

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 California Golden Bears football team and Big Game (American football)

No. 4 Notre Dame

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry

In arguably one of the best college football games of the year, a game that had ten lead changes and almost 1,000 yards of offense, Stanford scored five touchdowns in five red zone trips, but it would be Stanford Kicker Conrad Ukropina who hit the game-winning field goal as time expired, which also ended Notre Dame's College Football Playoff hopes while keeping Stanford's playoff hopes alive. With 6:48 left in the game and the Cardinal leading 35-29, the Irish would march 88 yards in 15 plays (using up 6:18 of the play clock). It was capped off by Notre Dame Quarterback DeShone Kizer's two-yard touchdown run to give the Irish the lead with just 30 seconds left in the game. But the Irish defense could not hold as Stanford would go 45 yards in just 28 seconds and finish off the game with the win from Ukropina's field goal.

Vs. #24 USC (Pac-12 Championship)

More information Total ...
See also: 2015 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, 2015 USC Trojans football team, and Stanford–USC football rivalry

Vs. #6 Iowa (Rose Bowl)

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See also: 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and 2016 Rose Bowl

Sports analysts had anticipated the contest to be exciting, due mainly to the matchup between Iowa's strong run defense and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, the Heisman Trophy runner-up. McCaffrey led the FBS in the 2015 season with 3,864 all-purpose yards, which came from punt/kick returns, runs from scrimmage, and passes out of the backfield.[14] In contrast, Iowa's run defense finished the season ranked 14th, allowing only 121 yards per game and having defeated historically rushing teams like Wisconsin, Indiana, and Nebraska.[15]

McCaffrey caught a short pass and turned it into a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The Hawkeyes were unable to stop him, as he averaged 9.6 YPC (172 yards on 18 carries), returned a punt for a touchdown, and converted many third downs. Though he did not rush for any touchdowns from scrimmage, he proved to be the primary playmaker for Stanford, catching a third of Cardinal Quarterback Kevin Hogan's twelve passes. McCaffrey was such an offensive threat that Hogan was able to make large gains with the read option, including a wide-open first-quarter option TD run.

Stanford's 21-0 first-quarter lead was the most first-quarter points scored by one team in Rose Bowl history.[16] Stanford shut Iowa out in the first half 35-0, with Stanford's 35 points the most scored in the first half of a Rose Bowl in its entire 102-year history.[16] McCaffrey gained a total of 368 all-purpose yards, setting another Rose Bowl record.[16]

Iowa was unable to get their run game going, rushing as a team for 1.3 YPC (48 yards on 38 carries). The longest Iowa runs were 14 and 12 yards,[17] as well as a 14-yard scramble by Quarterback C. J. Beathard. Iowa's inability to establish a run game closed up Iowa's potential for play-action passing, which had been Beathard's bread and butter all season. Iowa's halfbacks, their biggest threat all season, were overall unable to garner any significant yardage on the ground.[17]

By the second half, Stanford's explosiveness slowed down, scoring just 10 second-half points versus their 35 first-half points. Iowa did not score until the 3rd quarter when placekicker Marshall Koehn kicked a field goal after converting on 4th down earlier in the drive; Beathard threw 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter, with Koehn missing one of the two PATs.

Iowa had a slight advantage in time of possession, possessing the ball for almost 33 minutes, though they were simply unable to make meaning out of their possessions. Iowa also outgained Stanford through the air by a slim margin, with 239 yards to Stanford's 223.[18]

Rankings

Further information: 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
More information Week, Poll ...

Statistics

Team

More information Team statistics, Stanford ...

All opponents

More information Total ...

Pac-12 opponents

More information Total ...

Non-conference opponents

More information Total ...

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2016 NFL draft
More information Round, Pick ...

References

  1. [1]
    "Christian McCaffrey Catapults No. 7 Stanford Past USC for Pac-12 Title", USA Today, December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  2. [2]
    "Stanford vs Northwestern Game Summary". ESPN. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  3. [3]
    "Stanford vs UCF Game Summary". ESPN. September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Stanford vs USC Game Summary". ESPN. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Stanford vs Oregon State Game Summary". ESPN. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Arizona vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  7. [7]
    "UCLA vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  8. [8]
    "Washington vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Stanford vs Washington State Game Summary". ESPN. October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  10. [10]
    "Stanford vs Colorado Game Summary". ESPN. November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  11. [11]
    "Oregon vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. [12]
    "California vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  13. [13]
    "Notre Dame vs Stanford Game Summary". ESPN. November 28, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  14. [14]
    "All Purpose | FBS Football Statistics - NCAA.com". NCAA.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  15. [15]
    "Rushing Defense | FBS Football Statistics - NCAA.com". NCAA.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  16. [16]
    "Christian McCaffrey sets Rose Bowl record as Stanford routs Iowa". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  17. [17]
    "Stanford vs. Iowa - Box Score - January 1, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  18. [18]
    "Stanford vs. Iowa - Team Statistics - January 1, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
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