August 31, 2005

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Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

The lineup is finally shaping up

by Rick Eymer

Walt Harris, the football coach who brought the West Coast offense back to Stanford, called an audible following Sunday's practice and named Trent Edwards his starting quarterback for the season.

Harris made his decision a few days earlier than anticipated, though the decision was hardly a surprise. Edwards received the majority of work with the first team offense.

Menlo-Atherton High grad T.C. Ostrander, who played in six games last season and started the final two, will remain the team's No. 2 signal caller. Ostrander served in the same role last year.

The loss of senior defensive end Casey Carroll to a season-ending knee injury tempered Harris' quarterback announcement.

Carroll, a high school All-American from Florida, played in 31 of 33 games the previous three years and was expected to anchor a defensive line that also included senior nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and senior defensive end Julian Jenkins.

There's a possibility that Carroll could apply for a medical redshirt and be granted a sixth year.

Carroll, who lists "the inventors of the Buffalo Chicken Wing" among the people in history he admires most, has 33 tackles, a quarterback sack and three tackles for losses in his career.

Sophomore Chris Horn and redshirt freshmen Pannel Egboth and Gustav Rydstedt (all the way from Stockholm) figure to gain more consideration for playing time on the defensive line.

Edwards, Ostrander and quarterback hopefuls Garrett Moore and Tavita Pritchard have been scrambling to incorporate Harris' offense from the moment Harris was hired away from Pittsburgh last December.

"This offense is so much different than anything else I've been a part of," Edwards said. "I know T.C. and I are in the same boat. You need to be fully prepared. I am still trying to understand the offense and get the plays down."

Edwards, beginning his fourth camp with Stanford, started 13 games over the past two years, including the first nine last season. He's appeared in 17 games for the Cardinal and has thrown for 2,468 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.

"I don't think it was ever clearcut," Harris said. "I just think Trent is a little bit more ready and gives us a little bit better chance. A quarterback has got to keep everybody involved in the game and he has to have confidence in all the guys on every play."

Edwards completed nearly 55 percent of his passes last season, a trend that began at Los Gatos High. Edwards completed 75 percent of his passes while leading the Wildcats to a 26-0 record in his final two years.

As a junior, Edwards set a state record with a completion percentage of .781 as he threw for 2,529 yards.

Edwards began last season as the starting quarterback, throwing for 1,718 yards. He missed the final two games of the year because of a left shoulder injury.

"The superstar recruit enters his third year on the field looking to finally live up to all the prep hype," wrote collegefootballnews.com. "He has the size, the arm and the tools to succeed, but now he has to stay healthy and put up bigger numbers and wins."

Ostrander threw for a career high 247 yards and two touchdowns in his first start against Oregon State and finished with 914 yards over six games in his first year.

"Part of the reason we had to hold back (on the decision) was because of the skill he has and the way he plays," Harris said.

Stanford plays at Navy on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. (CSTV). The Cardinal open at home the following Saturday against UC Davis at 7 p.m..

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