Stanford Football: Top 5 breakout candidates for 2017

Over the years, Stanford has had some solid tight ends come through the program. The Cardinal have been known for utilizing the tight end potentially better than most teams in the Pac-12 and up there with the best in the nation. Heck in just the past five years, Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Austin Hooper have been drafted and all are expected to be valuable in 2017.

The next big star at the tight end position could be junior Dalton Schultz. He came to Stanford as one of the top tight ends in the entire country and some even considered him the No. 1 player at that position in the 2015 class.

However, in just two years, he’s been relatively quiet on the offensive side of the ball. He’s caught a total of 33 passes for 343 yards and two scores. He’s coming off somewhat of an improvement season as he became one of the team’s top targets in 2016, though. He caught 23 passes for 222 yards and a score — ranking fifth on the team in receiving.

Schultz has talented former Under Armour All-American Kaden Smith backing him up so if he wants to keep that job, he’s going to need a big season. That’s what he’s going to provide as he surpasses the 450-yard mark with 35-plus catches and five touchdowns.