Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Pac-12 Football Spring Preview: 10 biggest questions and storylines

By Gabe Encinas

Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated UCLA 40-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated UCLA 40-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) scores on a 75-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2016 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Stanford defeated Iowa 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) scores on a 75-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2016 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Stanford defeated Iowa 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Does Christian McCaffrey top his sophomore campaign?

Many felt that Christian McCaffrey was snubbed for the Heisman Trophy. He went out and proved to all of the doubters that he was worthy of the Heisman, breaking the Rose Bowl all-purpose yards record with 368 yards, shredding the Iowa Hawkeyes.

But his greatest feat was breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season all-purpose yardage record, a record that was held for 27 yards. Rushing, receiving, returning, even passing the ball — Christian McCaffrey did it all for Stanford last season.

McCaffrey ended the season with 3,496 yards — 1,847 rushing yards, 540 receiving yards, 1,042 kick return yards and 67 punt return yards.

Teams are going to be strategizing all around him even more as if he wasn’t already marked the most dangerous man on the field. He’ll be without Kevin Hogan this season and there will be a very intriguing quarterback battle in Palo Alto. Whoever emerges as the signal caller, they’ll need Christian McCaffrey to come up big to help relieve some of the pressure.

McCaffrey is a special athlete and the bar has been set extremely high. With a new quarterback, he might be getting even more work and teams will do whatever it takes to slow him down. If Stanford’s defense can continue to improve, allowing McCaffrey to get the ball back much sooner, this might be a special season.

Next: Was Washington State a one hit wonder?

Home/Arizona State Sun Devils