ESPN College Football

2011 record: 11-2
2011 conference record: 8-1 (2nd, North)
Returning starters: Offense: 6; defense: 7; kicker/punter 1

Top returners
RB Stepfan Taylor, OLB Chase Thomas, LB Shayne Skov, FB Ryan Hewitt, C Sam Schwartzstein, OG David Yankey, OT Cameron Fleming, DE Ben Gardner, TE Zach Ertz, TE Levine Toilolo.

Key losses
QB Andrew Luck, OL David DeCastro, OL Jonathan Martin, S Delano Howell, DE Matt Masifilo, WR Chris Owusu, TE Coby Fleener, S Michael Thomas.

2011 statistical leaders* (returners)
Rushing: Stepfan Taylor* (1,330 yards)
Passing: Andrew Luck (3,517 yards)
Receiving: Griff Whalen (749 yards)
Tackles: Jarek Lancaster* (70)
Sacks: Chase Thomas* (8.5)
Interceptions: Michael Thomas (3)

Spring answers
1. And then there were two: The pack of five has been funneled down to two quarterbacks competing to replace Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. There are plenty of questions left (see below) but at least we know that it's not a three-, four- or five-man race heading into spring. Brett Nottingham and Josh Nunes clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack. That's a start.

2. Running back depth: In case Stepfan Taylor gets the flu, and Tyler Gaffney trips over his batting gloves, and Anthony Wilkerson stubs his toe, we know the Cardinal still have a viable running back option in Ricky Seale, who impressed Shaw this spring with his vision, quickness and elusiveness. Oh yeah, there's a Barry something or other coming in the fall whose supposed to be a pretty good running back. RB depth is not a concern.

3. Scary front seven: The Cardinal have so much talent and depth at defensive line and linebacker that defensive coordinator Derek Mason has to be scratching his head on how to get everybody in. Linebacker James Vaugthers is a star on the rise -- but that means taking reps away from A.J. Tarpley and Jarek Lancaster. Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy are two of the best at what they do. Stanford's run defense was really good last year. It could be great this year.

Fall questions
1. Who's the guy? Nunes or Nottingham? Nottingham or Nunes? That's the question everyone will be asking on the Farm for the next few months. This might be the most intriguing quarterback competition in the country. But the Cardinal don't need a 50-attempt guy. They need someone who can put them in the best play against the right defense and hand off to Stepfan Taylor. Then repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And then pop a play-action to Ty Montgomery, Zach Ertz or Levine Toilolo.

2. The Fleener factor: Much of Stanford's offensive success came from the three-tight-end formations, which included Coby Fleener, Ertz and Toilolo. In fact, about 35 percent of the offensive playbook is triple-tight sets. How much does that change with Fleener's departure to the NFL? Ertz and Toilolo are both outstanding tight ends in their own right. But the three of them together was something special.

3. Drop-off? Aren't you tired of reading about the drop-off Stanford is going to suffer with the graduation of Luck? Well, so are the players. Several have said off the record that it's a great motivational tool because they believe the defense and running game are stronger than they've ever been. Whatever the public thinks, it hasn't penetrated the locker room. Not yet, anyway.

It’s been more than a week since the Indianapolis Colts made Andrew Luck the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of more draft picks (David DeCastro also in the first, Coby Fleener and Jonathan Martinin the second round) and undrafted free agent signings.

One week seems like a long enough moratorium on projecting first-round draft picks. But ESPN.com’s Todd McShay couldn't wait that long. He’s released his way-too-early 2013 first round mock draft on Wednesday and Stanford linebacker Shayne Skov is projected to go in the first round to the New York Giants -- No. 31 overall.

Naturally, there is only so much credence we can give to this kind of projection this far in advance. After all, wasn’t Fleener supposed to go in the first round to the Giants?

Skov’s projection is an interesting one. Speaking with a couple of different Stanford coaches over the last couple of weeks, all indications are that Skov’s rehabilitation from a severe knee injury suffered in Week 3 against Arizona is progressing as planned.

Unplanned was his DUI arrest, which will continue to hang over the program until head coach David Shaw acts. For the record, Shaw said he would wait until after spring ball before announcing Skov’s punishment because he didn’t want to take away from the team.

But the bigger question is how Skov will perform once he returns to the field. Skov’s commitment to getting back healthy isn’t a question, nor is the mental aspect of the game. But when he goes to the combine and he starts getting poked and prodded and the injury questions come up, there is just no way to know how teams are going to react. Case-in-point: Washington running back Chris Polk, a pretty darn good back who was projected somewhere between the second and third rounds. But questions about his injured shoulders dropped him completely out of the draft.

And since we're projecting him as a first-round pick for kicks and giggles, would he slip by Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers in the middle 20s (who didn't think Harbaugh would snatch up Fleener?)

If Skov had never been injured (and for the sake of argument, let’s assume he came back for another year) I would feel a lot more confident projecting him as a first round pick. But until we see how he moves on the field and just how sturdy that surgically-repaired knee really is, putting him in the first round seems a little too far out on a limb even for me.

Three consecutive Heisman Trophy runners-up, two consecutive BCS bowl games and final top-10 rankings: Hey, Stanford's special run of football success was fun to watch. It was neat seeing the most academically elite university playing BCS football whipping the big boys.

But we all know it can't possibly last, right? Jim Harbaugh built it and he's gone. Andrew Luck was a once-in-a-generation quarterback, and he's gone. And he took with him three other offensive players among the first 42 selections in the NFL draft over the weekend.

While the Cardinal certainly had more than 15 minutes of fame, it's time for this program to go back to its familiar brainiac territory -- Faulkner, computer chips and advanced algorithms. Leave big-time football the USCs, Alabamas and Ohio States of the nation.

Yes, such talk has worked its way across the grid, onto the Farm and into the Stanford locker room.

"We've talked about that," coach David Shaw said. "But we've also talked about that there can't be anything outside of our meeting rooms that motivates us. The motivation has to come from within. It's the only way that it is real. The only way that it is legitimate. But we've heard it. We know where we're ranked. But preseason rankings don't matter. Postseason rankings do."

In other words, the Cardinal believe reports of their demise are greatly exaggerated.

"They said the same thing when Toby [Gerhart] left and when Harbaugh left," outside linebacker Chase Thomas said. "We're pretty confident. We know what we bring to the table."

Of course, things change. No team can easily replace four elite NFL draft picks from its offense. That's why Stanford may be more about defense in the early going of 2012. Thomas leads a crew of six returning starters from a unit that ranked among the nation's top 30 in both scoring and total defense. The Cardinal's front seven in their 3-4 scheme appears to be particularly strong. Few teams in the nation will be as deep at linebacker, with Thomas and inside linebacker Shayne Skov both rating as potential All-Americans.

But what about that offense? The competition to replace Luck wasn't resolved this spring, with neither Josh Nunes nor Brett Nottingham demonstrating much consistency. And whoever wins the job won't have tackle Jonathan Martin protecting his blind side, or guard David DeCastro grinding defensive linemen into hamburger, or tight end Coby Fleener sprinting open down the middle with his 6-foot-6 self.

"We will continue our commitment to controlling the line of scrimmage," coordinator Pep Hamilton said. "We're going to run power. I don't see us changing much. If anything, if we have a few more opportunities to run power, we'll do that."

That means leaning on running back Stepfan Taylor, who has rushed for 2,770 yards and 27 TDs over the previous three seasons, and a deep stable of backs. That means leaning on a tight end combination -- Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo -- that is as good as any in the nation, even without Fleener.

Receiver and offensive line? Those two spots remain questions, though the line will welcome back three starters.

Existing talent, however, doesn't tell the whole story of Stanford's potential for sustaining success. The incoming recruiting class is a significant chapter. Rivals ranked it fifth in the nation, Scout seventh and ESPN Recruiting 12th. No team in the nation came close to collecting as many elite offensive linemen: guard Joshua Garnett (Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup), Andrus Peat (Tempe, Ariz./Corona Del Sol) and offensive tackle Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente).

Shaw isn't afraid to play the young guys, either. True freshmen will get opportunities on both sides of the ball, including the offensive line.

"There's a reason why we recruited a couple of big-timers at those positions," he said. "They will have an opportunity to play if not start at the left tackle position."

Instead of going away, Stanford may well have found a perfect formula that Harbaugh generated and Shaw has refined. Stanford has a lot to sell a certain type of athlete, one who is equal parts brains and brawn. Despite what many folks think about young athletes, there are plenty who want to challenge themselves intellectually before playing football on Sundays.

"This is a special place that attracts a certain kind of person," said Shaw, a former Stanford player himself. "The GPAs in this recruiting class are high, even positions where they are not always high. Our lowest receiver GPA is a 3.4. Not regular GPA, core GPA. These guys are good students and tough kids."

But how fast are they? A 3.4 is nice, but what about 4.4? The one thing that has held Stanford back is a lack of elite speed all over the field, particularly in the secondary and at receiver. Shaw said they "are getting closer" in terms of speed, but he also admitted that the Cardinal -- just like every other Pac-12 program -- have a bit of an Oregon problem. They are 23-1 versus everyone else over the past two seasons, outscoring those foes 1,024-405. Against the Ducks, Stanford is 0-2, outscored 105-61.

Does Stanford have an "Oregon problem?"

"That's a great question," Shaw said. "I'd like to have a survey on your website if anybody has some ideas. Chip [Kelly] does a phenomenal job."

While Shaw is said this in a good-humored way, it's clear that he and his coaches have spent plenty of time thinking about the Ducks. They recall beating them 51-42 in 2009, particularly how they handled the ebbs and flows of momentum. They know it's about preventing big plays and not wasting opportunities on offense. They know it's about tempo, a pitched battle of contrasting styles. Oregon wants to play fast and slash you. Stanford wants to slow things down and pound you.

At least one insider believes Stanford will sustain its recent run of success.

"Absolutely. Hopefully they do better than we did," Luck said. "I think there are a lot of great players here, starting at the top with the coaching staff. Great players, great recruiting classes. They will only continue to get better."

As for what Stanford will be in 2012, its first season of the post-Luck era, Shaw thinks his team will have the same tough-guy persona. But it'll be angrier.

"We're going to go right at people and hit them in the mouth," he said. "And it helps to feel like you're disrespected."

The inevitable is now official. Former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is an Indianapolis Colt.

Commissioner Roger Goodell had announced the 2012 NFL draft was open and Luck was on the phone with the Colts no more than 15 seconds later.

He got big hugs from head coach David Shaw and teammate Coby Fleener as he made his way to center stage.

"It was everything I thought it would be," Luck told ESPN's Suzy Kolber about the experience of being picked No. 1 overall. "I feel so blessed, so fortunate to be in this situation. I can't wait to start with the Colts."

And what can Indianapolis fans expect from Luck following a 2-14 season?

"Hope for the best," Luck said. "We'll come in and work hard. I know there are a lot of great guys in the locker room already. I feel so honored and so grateful to be able to represent this city now and be part of a team."

Luck becomes the fourth Stanford quarterback selected No. 1 overall, joining Bobby Garrett (1954), Jim Plunkett (1971) and John Elway (1983). Stanford is the only school that has produced four quarterbacks taken No. 1 overall.

Other Pac-12 players:

• Despite a trade, the Minnesota Vikings still got the man they were targeting all along, USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. Cleveland traded up to the No. 3 spot where the Browns took Alabama running back Trent Richardson. The 6-foot-6, 306-pound Kalil went to the Vikings with the No. 4 pick. He becomes the 76th first round draft pick in USC history and the 22nd USC Trojan offensive lineman drafted in the first round. He's the highest drafted USC lineman since Tony Boselli (1995, second overall).
• Then, there was a long, somewhat surprising lull for the conference. Stanford guard David DeCastro, whom most mock drafts had going in the teens, slipped down to No. 24 where the Pittsburgh Steelers got some pretty good value with the No. 1 guard in the draft. DeCastro was the third offensive lineman taken after Kalil and Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff, who went one pick earlier at No. 23 to the Detroit Lions.
• Between the picks of Kalil and DeCastro, there were 13 defensive players taken to just six offensive. That run on defense benefited USC defensive end Nick Perry, who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers at No. 28. He'll join former Trojan Clay Matthews in the Packers' 3-4 scheme. Perry was considered a first/second-round tweener but lands in a pretty good spot.
• With just those four being taken, Fleener and Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin are still on the board. Both were considered potential first round picks -- but Martin's stock had been sliding over the last few weeks while Fleener's star was on the rise. Once thought to be a pipe dream a couple of weeks ago, might we see the Luck-to-Fleener connection in Indianapolis after all?

OK, I'm a little biased since I know David DeCastro and think any team in the NFL would be lucky to have a plug-and-play offensive lineman like him. So in my mind, there isn't much debate.

But over at ESPN Dallas, Todd Archer has a different take. He and Tim MacMahon debated which player is better for the Cowboys — with MacMahon on the side of DeCastro and Archer looking to the opposite side of the ball, opting for Alabama safety Mark Barron.

Writes MacMahon:

If it comes down to taking the best player on the board, Stanford guard David DeCastro will be an easy selection for the Cowboys with the 14th overall pick.

No argument. I've seen a mock or two that has DeCastro cracking the top 10 based on need. I don't think he'll go that high, but as Archer points out, DeCastro is likely to be a 10-year starter in the NFL.

MacMahon continues:

He's a tough, smart, 6-foot-5, 316-pound technician who is a good run blocker, especially in space, and excels in pass protection. He'd make the Cowboys' run game better and provide a clean pocket for Tony Romo.

The beauty of a player like DeCastro is that he comes from a pro-style system. Because he doesn't come from a pass-happy spread attack, he doesn't need to be re-trained to think run first. That's instinctive to a guy like DeCastro. He's just as good in pass protection, as MacMahon notes, but you want a guy whose first instinct is to take a step forward in the run game, rather than sit back and pass protect.

MacMahon concludes:

DeCastro is the one player the Cowboys could possibly pick at No. 14 who doesn't have any notable question marks. So what if guard/center isn't considered a premium position? You can't go wrong drafting a perennial Pro Bowler.

This is the one spot where I'd put on the breaks. Lots of good guards out there in the NFL. Does DeCastro have Pro Bowl potential? Absolutely. But to call a guy a perennial Pro Bowler might be jumping the gun just a little bit. I understand MacMahon is putting an exclamation point on his argument. And personally, I'd love to see DeCastro have that kind of success. But that kind of a praise might be a little premature until we see how he adjusts to the next level. Other than that, I'm on board with MacMahon.

This story appears in the April 30, 2012 NFL draft issue of ESPN The Magazine. Subscribe today!

EVERY FOOTBALL PLAY tells a story. Many stories, actually: those of players, of teams, of the play itself, all intertwined like the wires in a messy circuit box. It's a scout's job to make sense of these stories, distilling them to distinguish the great players from those who only appear so, ultimately seeking to answer the multimillion-dollar question: If players' pasts are woven together, what's the story of each of their futures?

David Shaw, Stanford's coach, sits in his office on a sunny March afternoon with his own story. Shaw, the 39-year-old with a shiny head and a soft voice, spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant and then returned to his alma mater as offensive coordinator in 2007 before succeeding Jim Harbaugh last year. He helped develop, then inherited, what some consider the most talented college offense ever, one that produced 43 points per game last season.

The depth of that prolific offense has now created a historic opportunity. Never before have a quarterback, guard, tackle and tight end from the same college been selected in the first round of the NFL draft. On April 26, that may change. Cardinal right guard David DeCastro is considered the draft's nastiest offensive lineman; left tackle Jonathan Martin is 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds and runs like a tight end; tight end Coby Fleener, 6-6 and 247, runs like a wide receiver. And then there's that Andrew Luck guy.

Theirs is a singular story: seven combined first-team All-Pac-12 slots, three first- or second-team All-America selections and the legacy of turning Stanford from a 5-7 also-ran in 2008 to a back-to-back BCS bowl invitee. Still, years from now, their collective story will almost surely be one of unmet expectations. It's just the way these things go: Of the 15 Miami Hurricanes drafted in the first round from 2002 to '04, only three -- Ed Reed, Vince Wilfork and Andre Johnson -- became superstars. In 2006, five USC players, including Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, came off the board in the first 45 picks. Combined Pro Bowls: zero.

You can view the complete story here.

ESPN The Magazine provides a unique, fun and candid look at Stanford's Andrew Luck, David DeCastro, Jonathan Martin and Coby Fleener.

STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford kicked off its second spring session after a three-week break this week, and here are some notes from the Pac-12 blog's visit on Thursday.

• And the first quarterback of the post-Andrew Luck Era is ... Yeah, right. It's likely going to be either junior Brett Nottingham or senior Josh Nunes, but coach David Shaw said the competition will extend into fall camp. "I want them to finish spring in competition mode. And I want them to start fall camp in competition mode," he said. "I don't want to name a starter the week of the first game. I'd like to do it before that so we can start to settle in." Shaw called the competition "Neck and neck."
• A recurring theme from the coaches -- Shaw and both coordinators -- is that members of the 2012 recruiting class are going to play in the fall. Several, in fact. Particularly in need areas such as the offensive line and secondary. Yes, those touted frosh O-linemen are going to see immediate action.
• As for the competition among existing players to replace left tackle Jonathan Martin and right guard David DeCastro, those spots are still up in the air. Brendon Austin and Cole Underwood are in the mix at LT, and Khalil Wilkes and Kevin Danser are in a battle for DeCastro's guard spot.
• Talented sophomore James Vaughters will get on the field, and don't be surprised if he ends up at inside linebacker. At least, that seems to be where defensive coordinator Derek Mason envisions him at present. Part of this appears to be his comfort with Kevin Anderson, who's been playing defensive end, and Alex Debniak backing up outside 'backers Trent Murphy and Chase Thomas.
• By the way, Mason loves his linebacker depth. He said as many as 10 could play in the Cardinal's 3-4 next year.
• Henry Anderson and Josh Mauro are locked in a tough competition to replace underrated defensive end Matt Masifilo.
• The Cardinal need to replace both starting safeties. The name that comes up the most is Ed Reynolds, who was out last season with a knee injury. Jordan Richards, Kyle Olugbode and Devon Carrington are in the mix also, but Mason doesn't hesitate to bring up incoming freshmen Drew Madhu and Zach Hoffpauir.
• It's pretty clear that the not-entirely-unreasonable questioning of whether Stanford can remain an elite team post-Andrew Luck is serving as motivation in the locker room. While the topic is hardly obsessed over, it's also fair to say everyone is aware of the widespread doubts heading into 2012.

The current number is six. That is six Pac-12 players projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft, according to Mel Kiper's latest mock draft .

They are the usual six you'd expect; Andrew Luck, David DeCastro, Jonathan Martin and Coby Fleener from Stanford along with Matt Kalil and Nick Perry from USC. The last time a school from the conference had four players taken in the first round was USC in 2008 (see list below).

Oregon's LaMichael James is the lone Pac-12 player projected for the second round (this is Kiper's first swing at a two-round mock this season).

So is six for the first round good? Bad? Par for the course? As Ted Miller is so fond of saying, glad you asked.

Since 2000, the Pac-10 (since we're not including Colorado or Utah from previous drafts) has only had six or more players taken in the first round twice. There was the monster draft in 2003 where eight Pac-10 players were taken in the first round. And then in 2008, six players were taken.

Here's a look at the conference's first round picks since 2000:

• 2011 (3): Jake Locker (Washington, No. 8 overall); Tyron Smith (USC, No. 9); Cameron Jordan (Cal, No. 24)
• 2010 (2): Tyson Alualu (Cal, No. 10); Jahvid Best (Cal, No. 30)
• 2009 (4): Mark Sanchez (USC, No. 5); Brian Cushing (USC, No. 15); Alex Mack (Cal, No. 21); Clay Matthews (USC, No. 26)
• 2008 (6): Sedrick Ellis (USC, No. 7); Keith Rivers (USC, No. 9); Jonathan Stewart (Oregon, No. 13); Sam Baker (USC, No. 21); Antoine Cason (Arizona, No. 27); Lawrence Jackson (USC, No. 28)
• 2007 (1): Marshawn Lynch (Cal, No. 12)
• 2006 (4): Reggie Bush (USC, No. 2); Matt Leinart (USC, No. 10); Haloti Ngata (Oregon, No. 12); Marcedes Lewis (UCLA, No. 28)
• 2005 (3): Mike Williams (USC, No. 10); Aaron Rodgers (Cal, No. 24); Mike Patterson (USC, No. 31)
• 2004 (3): Reggie Williams (Washington, No. 9); Kenechi Udeze (USC, No. 20); Steven Jackson (Oregon State, No. 24)
• 2003 (8): Carson Palmer (USC, No. 1); Terrell Suggs (Arizona State, No. 10); Marcus Trufant (Washington State, No. 11); Troy Polamalu (USC, No. 16); Kyle Boller (Cal, No. 19); Kwame Harris (Stanford, No. 26); Nick Barnett (Oregon State, No. 29); Nnamdi Asomugha (Cal, No. 31)
• 2002 (4, also the first year with 32 picks): Joey Harrington (Oregon, No. 3); Levi Jones (Arizona State, No. 10); Jerramy Stevens (Washington, No. 28); Robert Thomas (UCLA, No. 31)
• 2001 (4): Andre Carter (Cal, No. 7); Adam Archuleta (Arizona State, No. 20); Freddie Mitchell (UCLA, No. 25); Todd Heap (Arizona State, No. 31)
• 2000 (4): Deltha O'Neal (Cal, No. 15); Erik Flowers (Arizona State, No. 26); R.Jay Soward (USC, No. 29); Trung Canidate (Arizona, No. 31).

So to answer the question, yes, six would be an impressive haul. Here's Kiper's latest Big Board and his updated top 5 at each position .

Todd McShay also offers his latest top 32 , which doesn't include Fleener.

The last pass Andrew Luck ever threw to Coby Fleener (at least for public consumption) was a high ball in the corner of the end zone during Stanford's pro day. Luck intentionally tossed it high so the 6-foot-6 tight end could show off his range as a dangerous red-zone target for the scouts.

The two will probably never hook up again. Right?

Not if you believe Todd McShay's latest mock draft -- which has Luck going No. 1 overall to the Indianapolis Colts and Fleener going No. 34 overall to ... wait for it... the Indianapolis Colts.

Can you just hear the call:

Jim Nantz: Second-and-10 at the Texans 18-yard line. Luck out of the shotgun, rolling to his left, pump-fakes once and fires across his body ... he's got Fleener in the corner of the end zone. Touchdown Colts! That was a rope.

Phil Simms: Wow, Jim. Great throw. Power and accuracy.

Nantz: Say, Phil. Wasn't arm strength the big issue with Luck coming out of Stanford?

Simms: (inaudible mumbling)

Nantz: What's that Phil? I think something is wrong with your mic. We'll look into that. But great throw by Luck and great catch by Fleener.

OK, maybe that's taking it a bit too far. But the Luck-to-Fleener prospect for years to come has to get folks in Indianapolis -- and a nation full of Stanford alumni -- absolutely giddy. But if I had a crisp $1 bill to bet, I'd wager that Fleener doesn't make it out of the first round.

Of course, sandwiched in between those two picks are guard David DeCastro (No. 17 to Cincinnati) and tackle Jonathan Martin (No. 19 to Chicago).

But rankings don't always go hand-in-hand with team's needs. McShay has all four Stanford players ranked in his top 32 . DeCastro and Fleener are ranked higher than their projected draft position while Martin is ranked lower than his projected draft position. Luck is pretty much crazy-glued at No. 1.

Fleener also made an appearance this week on Mel Kiper's Big Board based on an outstanding showing at the pro day.

After showing exceptional speed in the 40-yard dash plus great leaping ability, Fleener is now a size (6-foot-6, 247 pounds) and speed combination that teams can imagine splitting out the way the Patriots have with Rob Gronkowski. It's a market hungry for matchup advantages at that position, and Fleener will benefit.

Rounding out this week's projection links is Kiper's top-five ranking at each position .

It was vintage Andrew Luck. Big smile. Precision accuracy. And, as usual, doing what he can to make his teammates look good.

Following his Cirque de Pro Day yesterday on the Stanford campus, Luck was asked if there was one particular pass out of his 50 that he was most proud of. He could have picked one of the passes where he rolled to his left and threw across his body -- a difficult task even in shorts and a T-shirt. Or he could have gone with the 70-yard bomb on his final toss of the day. After all, hasn't that been the knock against Luck all along? No arm strength?

He could have singled out that throw as the cherry on his told-ya-so sundae -- the index finger over his lips followed by a symbolic "shhhhh."

But that's not Luck's style. He picked the pass just prior that, a 20-yard fade to Coby Fleener -- intentionally thrown high to make the 6-foot-6 tight end up go up for it.

"I wanted to give him a chance to jump up there and show off his hops and his stretch and show what he can do in the red zone," Luck said. "I’m secretly very proud of putting it in the right spot for him."

It's no real secret. Luck has put his teammates in the spotlight his entire career. And he did it one last time Thursday with more than 100 personnel from all 32 NFL teams on hand to watch.

Luck could have gone 10-for-50 and still would probably be the top pick in next month's NFL draft. Instead, he went 46-for-50. Three of those were dropped (sound familiar, Stanford fans?). Luck couldn't really do much with his pro day other than feed a starving media and hush a critic or two.

It was really about the other guys participating. Offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro are both expected to be taken in the first round and Fleener is regarded as the top tight end in the draft. But because Andrew Luck is Andrew Luck, some of his former teammates not expected to be drafted on the first day had the benefit of working out in front of every NFL team.

"That was a big focus for me," Luck said. "I'm in a unique position ... I have the chance to be drafted really high. So maybe a pro day is not going to hurt or help me as much as it could these other guys. I wanted to go out there and really showcase the strength of our receivers."

DeCastro is essentially a lock as the top interior lineman in the draft. But because Martin and Fleener didn't workout at February's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis -- Martin because of illness and Fleener because of a high ankle sprain suffered in the Fiesta Bowl -- this was their first time to record measurables for scouts.

"We might have gotten guys drafted today," said Stanford's sports performance coordinator Shannon Turley told GoStanford.com. "And a few others may have locked up spots in the first round."

Fleener, who chopped his flowing locks and apparently now goes to DeCastro's barber, was appreciative of Luck going out of his way to make him look good.

“Andrew will be a great pro because of his brain and his hard work," Fleener said. "It seems like you can give him endless amounts of information and he can process it and then access and use it during a game. I think you guys saw during the combine that he has more tools than people give him credit for as far as his physical attributes.”

And looking to return the favor, Fleener had no problem taking a jab at those who criticized Luck's arm strength.

“Well, how far did he throw it at the end today?" asked Fleener, referring to the 70-yard ball. "I think he could probably throw it further than that. Maybe in fact his arm strength isn’t his weakness after all."

As flattering as the prospect may seem, David DeCastro knows ESPN isn't coming out to Stanford's pro day just to broadcast him running offensive-line drills. He knows the score. He knows most of the attention will be trained on quarterback Andrew Luck.

But don't be surprised if the burly offensive guard gets more face time than any other Stanford player. Besides doing his individual workouts, he'll also be making a temporary move to center to snap for Luck.

You can watch the Cardinal's pro day at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN3. Besides Luck and DeCastro, offensive tackle Jonathan Martin and tight end Coby Fleener will also be featured. Luck, DeCastro and Fleener are expected to be the first players taken at their positions, and Martin is projected anywhere between the second and fourth offensive tackle on the board.

"It's pretty crazy, because we couldn't even get a game televised a couple of years ago," DeCastro said. "That pretty much sums it up. Now they are televising our pro day. Crazy. The program has come a long way. If we can get it televised every year, that would be great."

A lot of eyes will be on Luck, who didn't throw at last month's NFL combine. He's expected to be the No. 1 pick of the Indianapolis Colts in next month's NFL draft. Yesterday, Baylor's Robert Griffin III held his pro day in Waco, Texas. While some think there is a chance the Colts could roll the dice with Griffin, he's widely regarded as No. 2 quarterback behind Luck.

Here's an interesting take from ESPN's Mel Kiper on quarterbacks not throwing at the combine.

Last year, as you recall, Cam Newton's pro day was quite a big deal, because the top quarterbacks no longer throw at the combine, instead waiting for a more familiar setting, with targets they are used to working with. I don't mind that process. If you're considered this good, why not take advantage of the comfort level you've earned as you go through the process. These guys get nit-picked more than ever, so it's hard to blame them for taking control of something as significant as many consider these pro days.

But today isn't going to be all about Luck. It's the payoff for many of the players who helped grow the program.

"That's got to be one of the things I'm most proud of in my time at Stanford is helping turn the program around from a 1-11 season the year before I got there to two straight BCS games," Fleener said. "It's one of those things where it took a lot of work from the guys in the offseason and the coaches and the staff, and I'm happy to see Stanford football is on the right track.

"Hopefully this publicity is going to help the program, even in a small way. Anything we can do to help the program is great. We're all going to be Stanford fans for life."

Head coach David Shaw often praised this class of fourth- and fifth-year seniors for buying into the program he and former head coach Jim Harbaugh were pitching. He thinks the legacy they leave will help keep Stanford atop the national rankings for years to come.

"We don't just want smart guys that know how to play football," Shaw said. "We want great football players. We want guys to come here that want to play in the NFL, that want to be first-round draft picks. We want them to have that desire. We also want those guys to excel outside of football. When you've got a class of guys like this who can garner this much attention, it's awesome. And as you can see from the way we've been recruiting the last couple of years, [televised pro days] hopefully will be a regular occurrence for us."

There are also several other Stanford players who weren't invited to the combine, but will work out at the pro day. Because of the attention Luck attracts, many are considering this their combine.

And for those who did participate in the combine, it's one last chance to show what they can do before the draft.

"I'm excited," DeCastro said. "I'm feeling great. I'm in shape, lifting hard. Working out has never been an issue for me. I love training. I love getting that lift and getting those endorphins going."

Happy Friday. First, thanks for the kind words last week. I'm recovering nicely with the love of a good woman, a rambunctious 10-month-old boy and my trusty beagle at my side. The Kevin/Kevina jokes were pretty good and 51tj gets a tip of the cap for his Andrew Luck reference-hacking skills. Well played, sir.

On to this week's questions.

Adam in Newark, Calif., writes: Thanks for the Q&A with Wayne Lyons. But do you think one player can make that much of a difference on defense?

Kevin Gemmell: I actually think cornerback is the one true position where one player can make a massive difference. If Lyons establishes himself as a lock-down corner, that takes away half of the field in the passing game. But that's a big if, and we probably won't see that next year. He said it himself in the Q&A -- he doesn't have a film resume yet. He's going to have to grind this year and earn that name. He's probably going to be challenged a lot this season. How he responds to those challenges will dictate how he's treated by offensive coordinators over the next few seasons. So to come full circle, yes, I believe one player can make all of the difference. But if Lyons is said player, it won't happen until later in his career.

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Michael in New York City writes: Kevin, this speaks for itself. First Nike ad for Mr. Luck. I've only watched it 17 times.

Kevin Gemmell: I watched it a couple of times. I always hated the pun off his name. It's so 2009. I'm sure he rolled his eyes a couple of times, too, after reading the script and they probably told him to just do it. But nevertheless, it's a cool spot.

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Reed in Mercer Island, Wash., writes: I'm a Husky fan, that wishes Stanford would go back to being average. I'm curious if you have an opinion on how Andrew Luck will react to the NFL pass rush? I have "great respect" for him as an athlete and he seems like a really humble kid. My only question on him is that he has never dealt with a pass rush. He played behind fantastic lines at Stanford all three years and barely got his uniform dirty.

Kevin Gemmell: I think the answer lies in the question. He handled the pass rush extremely well in college and that's why he rarely got his uniform dirty. He has an excellent release, gets rid of the ball quickly and often has the ball in the air before the receiver turns on the break. That's what he's going to have to do in the NFL. There were times when I saw him get rattled -- the Oregon game comes to mind. But for all of the physical tools Luck has, it's really his cerebral game that is outstanding. He spent his entire college career working with David Shaw, who cut his teeth training quarterbacks to avoid the pass rush in the AFC North. You can't get much better preparation than that. He'll take his licks, but I'd expect when he's a bit more NFL seasoned, he'll handle it all extremely well.

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Stacey in San Jose, Calif., writes: Kevin, if you were an NFL general manager and had to choose between Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro, who would you take?

Kevin Gemmell: Ugh ... putting me on the spot, Stacey. And Matt Kalil is unavailable? I've always held the belief that if I was going to build a team from the ground up, I'd start by 1) protecting my quarterback and 2) getting to the other guy's quarterback. That's where the game is won and lost, in my humble opinion. There seem to be some questions surfacing about Martin of late. Is he a left tackle? Is he a right tackle? Does he have the frame for left tackle? I think so. But right now, DeCastro seems more like the sure-thing pick. You know exactly what you're getting with him -- a bulldozing interior lineman who is also outstanding in pass protection. Both are great guys and I really enjoyed getting to know them. But there are fewer questions with DeCastro at this point.

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Enjoy the hoops this weekend. My bracket has already found its way to the fireplace.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay released their various NFL draft rankings and boards for this week, and Stanford scored extremely high in some of Kiper's assessments.

First up, his top five draft prospects by position includes three Stanford players rated as the top of the class for their position group. Quarterback Andrew Luck (obviously), offensive guard David DeCastro and tight end Coby Fleener.

Kiper on DeCastro: There are years when no guards are taken in Round 1; with [Georgia's Cordy] Glenn and DeCastro available, we could see two taken before pick No. 20 this season. ... DeCastro has a solid reputation among evaluators and is exceptional in the run game; I don't expect him to fall.

Kiper on Fleener: This is now Fleener's group to lead. He has come on, and I now have him as a guy who could crack the first round.

Both DeCastro and Jonathan Martin got a boost as well from McShay, who has DeCastro moving up this week from No. 16 to No. 13 and Martin climbing two spots from No. 24 to No. 22.

McShay on Martin: Martin didn't take part in the combine because of an illness, and he's not as dominant on tape as one would expect, but he has the physical tools to develop into a starter at the next level.

Coupled with Luck going No. 1 overall (not buying the Washington trade conspiracy theories that Luck falls to them), that would give the Cardinal four first-round draft picks. Though once again, Kiper has left Martin off his latest Big Board for the second straight week. At one time, Martin was in Kiper's top 10.

Last month, Stanford head coach David Shaw said he'd be "shocked" if Fleener didn't go in the first round, telling reporters "All he does is run by people."

Kiper has nothing but good things to say about Luck in his Big Board analysis.

Kiper on Luck: The best news for Luck this week is that Reggie Wayne is staying in Indy. Luck is working hard in Palo Alto to prepare for next season. Status quo remains in terms of profile. The total package: arm strength, size, smarts, demeanor. Ready to play.

The Arizona Cardinals are one of the teams in hot pursuit of Peyton Manning, who of course is out in Indianapolis, paving the way for Stanford's Andrew Luck to be the No.1 pick in the NFL draft. Presumably.

That brings us to a rather ironic scenario: Could either Jonathan Martin or David DeCastro be blocking for Manning in Arizona just months after spending a collegiate career protecting Luck?

There are no guarantees that Manning ends up in Arizona. ESPN's Chris Mortensen has been all over Manning's travels and despite meeting with Arizona over the weekend, he has not engaged in contract negotiations with the Cardinals.

But a couple of Luck's old mates could be in line to join Arizona with that No. 13 pick in the NFL draft. Kevin Weidl writes on the Cardinals woes — and there is more to them than just quarterback. The first, and possibly the most pressing need, is on the offensive line, where either Martin — a left tackle at Stanford — or DeCastro — a guard — could get scooped up with lucky 13.

Weidl on Martin: Martin needs some added strength and polish, but he has left-tackle feet and the mentality for the position. He's fallen down our board a bit in recent weeks after a somewhat underwhelming film study, but positional value always pushes tackle prospects up the board...

On DeCastro: He can move defenders off the ball, and is the kind of plug-and-play prospect who could be a Cardinals mainstay for the next decade.

Both players had spectacular careers at Stanford and most mock drafts have both of them going in the first round. It's just a question of which one is going first and which teams have the biggest position needs. It seems like more questions are surfacing about Martin in recent weeks and whether he's cut out to be an NFL left tackle. In fact, ESPN's Mel Kiper didn't even include Martin in his mock draft last week. DeCastro's stock, however, has been on the rise and he's clearly established himself as the top interior lineman in the draft.

Earlier this month, Stanford coach David Shaw went into great detail about the significance of replacing two all-conference players on the offensive line and who some of the candidates are. The Cardinal also bring in the nation's top offensive line recruiting class — which will surely affect competition for one or both of those spots in 2012.

It's also worth watching the video that accompanies the linked-story as the First Take crew discuss the Washington Redskins' move to No. 2 in the draft — presumably to take Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Though an interesting theory is thrown out there that the Redskins are moving into position to draft Luck at No. 2 when Indianapolis takes Griffin No. 1 overall. Anyone else buying that?