Stanford Football: Dalton Schultz is the secret weapon for 2017

After putting up solid numbers in 2016, former four-star tight end Dalton Schultz could break out for Stanford football in 2017.

Stanford has a history of putting tight ends in the NFL. In fact, the Cardinal have sent Austin Hooper (most recently), Zach Ertz and Coby Fleener to the league over the past five years, so it’s obvious the program has a knack for producing elite-level tight ends.

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That may be the main reason as to why the Cardinal never have an issue recruiting that position. The young kids come to Stanford to play tight end knowing very well they’ll have a shot to make it to the league. Who will be next? Junior Dalton Schultz calls dibs.

The returning starter at tight end had a solid 2016 season, catching 23 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown, but David Shaw knows he has more to offer. Opponents may not be keying on Schultz just yet, but that will prove to be a major mistake as he is the team’s secret weapon and will break out in 2017.

With just 33 receptions and two touchdowns in his three-year career, the Cardinal are just waiting for him to show up and play like the No. 1 tight end in the 2015 class that he was. He was widely considered the best tight end in 2015 and at 6-foot-6 and 242 pounds, he looks the part.

As the fifth-leading receiver last season, Schultz came into his own a bit — especially at the end of the year. In fact, he caught nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the final four games, developing a strong connection with newly-anointed starter Keller Chryst. Expect that to carry over into 2017.

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Chryst is going to rely on the big-bodied tight end to bail him out of trouble every now and then, so don’t be shocked to see Schultz put up big numbers. Heck, 40 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns seems likely.