Photo credit: azdesertswarm.com
By Ana Kieu
Coming off a tough loss by the lowly UCLA Bruins, the Stanford Cardinal football team has room for improvement. The Cardinal (3-4, 2-3 Pac-12) will host the Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 2-2 Pac-12) Saturday afternoon at 12:30 pm PT. The game will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Network.
Here’s what you need to know before Saturday’s game.
FIRST CAREER STARTS
A total of 16 Cardinal have made their first career starts so far: Branson Bragg, Henry Hattis, Stuart Head, Houston Heimuli, Jake Hornibrook, Kyu Blu Kelly, Jonathan McGill, Barrett Miller, Davis Mills, J.J. Parson, Andrew Pryts, Curtis Robinson, Walter Rouse, Foster Sarell, Osiris St. Brown and Jack West.
TRUE FRESHMEN
Including punter Ryan Sanborn, seven true freshmen have started a game for the Cardinal this season, tied with UMass for second-most in the country. The Cardinal has started four true freshmen on the offensive line, most in the country.
TOUCHDOWNS GALORE
Stanford is seventh in the nation with two defensive touchdowns so far this season and has scored three non-offensive touchdowns.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cardinal’s special teams units have blocked two kicks this season, tops in the conference and 13th-best in the nation. Obi Eboh blocked an Oregon State field goal in the win against the Beavers, while Spencer Jorgensen blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown by Brycen Tremayne against UCLA.
NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK
Jack West got the start at quarterback against UCLA in place of the injured K.J. Costello and Davis Mills, marking Stanford’s third quarterback to start a game this season. The last time Stanford started three quarterbacks in the same season was in 1974 when Guy Benjamin, Mike Cordova and Jerry Waldvogel all started a game.
FIRST CAREER APPEARANCES
15 true freshmen have made their first career appearances so far this season: Branson Bragg, Stephen Herron, Elijah Higgins, Jake Hornibrook, Austin Jones, Brock Jones, Spencer Jorgensen, Kyu Blu Kelly, Zahran Manley, Jonathan McGill, Barrett Miller, Nathaniel Peat, Walter Rouse, Ryan Sanborn and Tristan Sinclair.
ADEBO ADVANTAGE
Through seven games, Paulson Adebo has made 27 tackles with 12 passes defended (10 breakups, two interceptions). Adebo’s 12 passes defended are sixth-most nationally.
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