Can Stanford Establish the Run in 2024?

Not much went right for Stanford's football team last season, as it finished with a 3-9 record, but one of the most significant weaknesses was a complete lack of a rushing attack. The Cardinal ran for just 1,427 yards as a team at a 3.4 YPC clip—both were among the bottom 25 rates in the country.

Quarterbacks Justin Lamson and Ashton Daniels were the teams' two leading rushers, and while running backs E.J. Smith and Casey Filkins eclipsed 200 yards, neither is with the team heading into the season.

Sophomore Sedrick Irvin is projected as the team's leading rusher this fall after finishing with 26 carries for 113 yards in eight games last fall. A three-star recruit in the class of 2023, Irvin flashed potential, especially when he finished with ten carries for 66 yards and a score against Arizona.

Head coach Troy Taylor said the team will work with a rotation early on, expecting that in the "first game, we'll probably play a number of guys and see how it sorts out."

Junior Ryan Butler, redshirt freshman Champ Hampton, and redshirt sophomore Kenaj Washington will also see an opportunity this season. They also have a trio of true freshmen who will look to crack the rotation.

The Cardinal offense will be heavily reliant on quarterback Ashton Daniels and wide receivers Elic Ayomanor and Tiger Bachmeier, but finding some semblance of balance will be crucial for the team's success.

Stanford begins the 2024 season with a home game against TCU on Friday, August 30 at 7:30 PM PST on ESPN.

Related: Stanford Opens the Season as a 9.5-Point Underdog Against TCU