STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford football team concluded spring practice Saturday afternoon with a crisp and spirited showing in the Cardinal and White Spring Game before an overflow crowd at sun-splashed Cagan Stadium.
Rising-junior quarterback Jack Richardson, a walk-on from Salinas, California, engineered three long scoring drives to spark the offense (Cardinal) to a 24-16 victory against the defense (White). The only healthy signal caller on the roster all spring, the composed Richardson completed 21 of 30 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
His reward? A scholarship.
"Jack Richardson is the most improved player on the team," said David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football. "From where he was when he walked on campus to now, he's bigger, he's stronger, he's more athletic, his arm is stronger, and he's got a great understanding of the offense. We feel like Jack can go in a game and help us out if we need him to."
Richardson's father, Kevin, was a starting linebacker at Stanford, and his mother, Teresa, starred in volleyball on The Farm. Both were on hand Saturday when their son learned about his scholarship.
"It means a lot," Jack Richardson said. "Being a walk-on really makes me appreciate the grind of sports and what my parents have sacrificed. It's what I worked for."
Not surprisingly, Richardson's teammates were thrilled for him.
"It's almost unexplainable," said wide receiver Conor Wedington. "Jack has been balling since Day 1. He came out here with confidence and performed all spring. I'm just so happy for him."
Added running back Cameron Scarlett, "When he knew he was the only quarterback, I knew he was going to do a great job. I knew he was going to take it personally that he needed to take the offense to a standard and that's exactly what he did."
Richardson tossed short scoring tosses to Wedington and fullback Houston Heimuli. The latter made a nifty, one-handed, 5-yard touchdown grab and ran 13 times for 44 yards. Wedington had five receptions for 68 yards.
Scarlett churned for a game-high 111 yards on 18 carries, including a pretty 19-yard scoring scamper around left end.
Defensively, the Cardinal held its own up front and received jarring hits from Ben Edwards, Bo Peek, Andrew Pryts and Jovan Swann. Cornerback Treyjohn Butler also made a nice open field tackle.
"I loved how physical it was," Shaw said. "We had to modify practices because of injuries. But I told the team yesterday, we want to reach a level we haven't reached all spring. I saw that today. There were a lot of pads popping. It felt like Stanford football."
Scarlett was pleased with the progress made by the Cardinal and himself.
"I felt like we took some good steps as a team," he said. "I felt like I grew as a player in the run game and the pass game, understanding the blitzes and the protection. I'm just excited to keep moving forward."
Likewise for Wedington.
"We came out every practice looking to get better," he said. "We're all trying to help each other. I try to model myself after JJ (Arcega-Whiteside) and Trent (Irwin). They're great leaders and I really look up to them."
Wedington made many contributions to the offense as a true freshman and looks to become even more involved.
"Any time coach wants to give me the ball, I'm never going to complain about that," said Wedington. "Any role he gives me I will try to do to the best of my ability."
Here's an assessment of the spring and look ahead to fall training camp from Shaw, Willie Shaw Director of Defense Lance Anderson, and Andrew Luck Director of Offense Tavita Pritchard.
Shaw on the spring: "For us to be good, we're going to spread the ball around. Bryce Love, trust me, he's going to get his fair share. But we've got two senior receivers that are outstanding, we have high aspirations for our young receivers, who are outstanding. I'm excited about our tight end group -- you saw some big plays today from those guys -- and K.J. Costello coming back with four or five starters on the offensive line. But for us to be successful, that ball's going to hit a lot of different hands."
Shaw's priority in fall camp: "Health. We did a whole spring without three of our starting four starting outside linebackers (Joey Alfieri, Bobby Okereke and Sean Barton); Frank Buncom and Alijah Holder; our top two quarterbacks (Costello and Davis Mills); our starting center (Jesse Burkett); our starting halfback (Love) and fullback (Reagan Williams). We missed a lot of guys."
Shaw on Love: "I had a conversation with Bryce. We're not going to measure him by stats next year. He wants to get bigger, he wants to be more versatile. We're going to help him be the best he can be for us. He's already broken records and won national awards. So those aren't the goals. His goal is to be the most well-rounded player he can be for Stanford and eventually the NFL."
Anderson on the spring: "We got a lot young guys reps and opportunities because with some guys who were out with injuries and some of the guys we lost. It's been great to see their development.
A lot of the freshmen who sat out last season have all done some really good things and are going to be in the thick of it to start at their positions. All will be contributors.
"Gabe Reid, Paulson Adebo and Dayln Wade-Perry have done a phenomenal job. Ben Edwards has really started to mature and understands the defense.
"A veteran guy, Dylan Jackson, who has played a lot of football, continues to do so. We hope he will take that next step and become a little bit more of a playmaker for us.
"It's good to see the improvement and maturation of other guys, like Malik Antione, who has played everywhere in the secondary. He has much better understanding and versatility, and will find a role somewhere."
Anderson on the priorities in fall camp: "We've got to continue to develop on the defensive line. We are inexperienced, so we need the guys coming back to play at a high level and continue to improve. We need to contributions from Jovan Swann, Mike Williams and Bo Peek. Those guys have all flashed and done some good things.
"It will be interesting to see how some of the young linemen coming in -- Thomas Booker and Andres Fox -- can help us. We have to continue to develop up front.
"One of the things we have to improve on is our run defense. If we are better against the run, it makes everything easier. You can make teams become one-dimensional and be a little more creative with stunts, things up front, and disguising coverages. That's going to be a big focus for us.
"We had some turnover in the secondary, but have some good guys coming back. We're looking for great things from Alijah Holder, Brandon Simmons and Frank Buncom."
Pritchard on the spring: "I think we got better. I really think we took advantage of our reps. The thing you have to understand is that every team gets 15 practices; it's what you do with it.
"I think we attacked it. Obviously, there was a learning curve and adjustment for guys in new roles and new guys on the staff. As a whole, we progressed. We still have a long way to go, but we're moving in the right direction.
"We were without some key guys who are working through injuries. But we are cautiously optimistic they will be back for fall camp. Not just the quarterbacks (Costello and Mills), but a lot of our guys are on schedule. We're planning to have them back. But everybody else is of the mindset no matter who is out there, we're not going to miss a beat."
Pritchard's biggest surprise of spring: "You have to mention Jack Richardson. Can't say enough about what he has done. He's really taken advantage of his opportunities.
"With our receivers and tight ends, we knew we had some exciting guys and they both did a really good job. I really like how the offensive line played. With a new coach (Kevin Carberry), there's a feeling out process. But man, he's such a good fit for this place. He's super-sharp and our guys really respond to that. They're doing what he's asking of them."
Pritchard's top priorities in fall camp: "Identifying our leaders on the offensive side of the ball. We have some established and older guys, but we that leadership to come from within. We need to have guys leading from the front. That will be a key thing for us."
Extra Points … The game was televised live by the Pac-12 Network, with former Stanford standout wide receiver Evan Moore serving as analyst … At halftime, Shaw received the Bobby Dodd Award as national coach of the year, and earned a rousing ovation from the fans … Many former Cardinal players were in attendance, including current NFL performers Joshua Garnett, Michael Thomas, James Vaughters and Brennan Scarlett … Players report for fall training camp on Aug. 1 … Stanford begins the 2018 season by hosting San Diego State on Aug. 31.
Quotable … "In the past, we've had to lean on our defense, just because it's been so strong. We feel like this year, we have a chance to flip that. That will be our mindset." - Cameron Scarlett