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Stanford Football: 3 commits who’ll have an instant impact in 2018

By Andrew Miller

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal runs out on to the field with his team before their game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach David Shaw of the Stanford Cardinal runs out on to the field with his team before their game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Stanford linebacker corps is about to lose a ton of starters this year. It’s one of the few positions that does not have much experience for the upcoming season. Plugging those gaps requires some thinking outside the box from Shaw.

He could start with three-star outside linebacker and Texas product Jacob Mangum-Farrar. As one of the most underrated pickups for any PAC-12 program on National Signing Day 2018, Mangum-Farrar is a huge get for a team that needs more linebackers.

Mangum-Farrar had some other offers from top-notch programs, a little bit closer to home. He seems to buy into what Shaw has to provide him over the next four years. The Oklahoma Sooners, Houston Cougars, Utah Utes, and Ole Miss Rebels all sent offers his way and he decided to take his talents to Stanford.

The biggest loss that Stanford needs to fill at linebacker entering 2018 is the void left by stud outside linebacker Peter Kalambayi. With a key part of the pass rush and run defense now gone, Mangum-Farrar could get thrown into the fire at some point this season. How he responds to that will ultimately determine his potential to start the following season.

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