Anderson prepares for final home football game at Stanford

Palo Alto grad Kevin Anderson acknowledges that “it’s going to be weird” walking onto the field at Stanford Stadium for the final time in a Cardinal football uniform on Saturday.

“It hasn’t really set in yet,” Anderson said Tuesday. “I’m sure it will be a little emotional. I’ll have to take advantage of that.”

Anderson, who is second on the team with eight tackles for a loss despite missing four games with an unspecified injury, may have a few more friendly faces in the crowd when the 13th-ranked Cardinal (9-2) kicks off its regular-season finale against No. 4 Notre Dame (10-1) at 4:30 p.m., to be televised by FOX.

“We’re having a lot of family for a big Thanksgiving and I’m sure some of them will attend the game,” he said.

Anderson ranks seventh on the team with 36 tackles, 19 solo. He’s also recorded a pair of sacks, has a quarterback hurry and returned a fumble 51 yards against Oregon.

“When I was out, I thought about having three home games left,” Anderson said. “The last two games have gone by quickly.”

Anderson also knows that no matter what happens this weekend, Stanford is guaranteed at least two games: the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 5 and a bowl game after that.

Injury Report

Cardinal sophomore fullback Daniel Marx will miss the remainder of the season with a lower leg injury sustained in the third quarter of Stanford’s 35-22 victory over California.

“Daniel has had a phenomenal year,” Shaw said. “He’s going to be back and he’s going to be good.”

Marx has had a hand in Christian McCaffrey’s record-setting year as the lead blocker.

“Losing a guy like Marx, a complete warrior and unbelievable football player, is hard,” McCaffrey said.

Senior Chris Harrell, who has appeared in nine games this season, will make his first career start on Saturday.

“Chris has prepared as a starter all year,” Shaw said. “We feel good about what he’s doing. He catches the ball out of the backfield.”

Tight end Greg Taboada will serve as Harrell’s back-up.

Sophomore cornerback Alijah Holder, who was banged up against the Bears, was held out of Tuesday’s practice as a precaution, with a decision concerning his availability coming later in the week.

Senior cornerback Ronnie Harris, who missed the Big Game, will try to go this week. Shaw listed his chances of playing at 50-50.

“He’s already running straight ahead,” Shaw said. “He’ll try to make cuts this week and we’ll see moving ahead.”

The Final Cut

Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey, offensive guard Joshua Garnett and tight end Austin Hooper have been selected finalists for national awards, it was announced Tuesday.

McCaffrey, a sophomore from Castle Rock, Colorado, is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the top collegiate player in the country, and the Doak Walker Award, given to the top running back.

Garnett, a senior from Puyallup, Washington, is one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy Award, which recognizes the best offensive or defensive interior lineman in the country.

Hooper, a junior from San Ramon, California, is a finalist for the Mackey Award, presented to the top tight end in the nation.

All winners will be announced Dec. 10 at The Home Depot College Football Awards from the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

Extra Points

Notre Dame wide receiver Amir Carlisle, who originally committed to Stanford, graduated from The King’s Academy as the all-time Santa Clara County leader in rushing yards. He’s third on the Irish with 29 receptions and a touchdown. He has also scored one of Notre Dame’s three touchdowns on special teams . . . Stanford and the Irish meet a fifth consecutive time with both teams being ranked . . . Christian McCaffrey continues to lead the nation in all-purpose yardage with 255.18 per game average. San Jose State’s Tyler Ervin is second at 206.73. He also leads the conference in rushing at 140.5 per game, inching ahead of Oregon’s Royce Freeman (139.9) . . . Quarterback Kevin Hogan took over the Pac-12 lead in passing efficiency with a 161.6 rating. USC’s Cody Kessler (160.0) held the lead the past several weeks.