Ball HawkBall Hawk
David Bernal/ISIPhotos.com
Football

Ball Hawk

STANFORD, Calif. – As a youngster, Paulson Adebo's favorite sport was basketball. He played three years at Mansfield High in Texas and could dunk easily.

"I didn't have an extensive package but could do all the basics," said the 6-1 Adedo.

He also excelled in track and football. The better he got on the gridiron, the more he liked it.

"It became my favorite (sport) for sure," he said. "It's fun to win."

Adebo starred for Mansfield on defense and offense. As a cornerback, he registered 128 tackles, broke up 19 passes and added eight interceptions his last two years. Adebo also caught 66 passes for 1,224 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

In 2017, he was selected an Under Armour All-America and the nation's seventh-best athlete by Scout.

After redshirting last season, Adebo has started five of- ix games at corner for Stanford. He is fifth nationally with 12 passes defended and has produced 34 tackles, third-most on the team. Adebo's 22 solo stops rank second on the squad.

Admittedly, the big crowds and bright lights from Friday night football in Texas helped him prepare for the big stage. But he really grew as a player by listening and learning last season.

"High school football is big in Texas, but it's still not college football," Adebo said. "Sitting out really helped, learning from the guys and coach (Duane) Akina. Just work habits. When I first got here I was doing a lot really fast but not really having a plan – just kind of moving and not getting a lot done. But I learned from the older guys."

Adebo is amazed how well Akina prepares the secondary for what it is going to face.

"I think the biggest thing is he really helps us a lot as far as learning tendencies," Adebo said. "He points out things that are going to happen and you're like, 'Wow. How did he know?' ''

Akina has 38 years of coaching experience is highly respected by his peers. He has produced three Thorpe Award winners and 33 of his players have ascended to the NFL.

Adebo also credited the scout team for giving the defense good looks during the week and the schemes of Lance Anderson, the Willie Shaw Director of Defense.

Adebo wears No. 11 but donned No. 7 in high school. The latter is one of three retired football jerseys at Stanford: John Elway (7), Jim Plunkett (16) and Ernie Nevers (1).

"Obviously, I can't wear that number," laughed Adebo. "That's why I wore No. 17 last year."

Although Adebo is establishing himself as one of the top corners in the Pac-12, he is hardly satisfied.

"I don't have any interceptions yet," Adebo said.

Bye week: Stanford (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12) travels to Arizona State (3-3, 1-2) next Thursday at 6 p.m. for a televised contest on ESPN. Both teams have byes this week.

Since 2014, the Cardinal has used bye weeks to good advantage, posting a 4-1 mark.

Back to work: Stanford returned to the practice field this week and sessions have been lively. One of the highlights Wednesday came near the end during special teams, when walk-on long snapper Jack Chapman from Moran, Wyoming, calmly snared an attempted onside kick. Teammates erupted and cheered from the sideline. 
 


Tight end U: The tight end position remains an integral part of the Stanford offense and will continue to be in the second half of the season. Through six games, junior Kaden Smith has 27 catches for 382 yards, while sophomore Colby Parkinson has 10 for 158 and three touchdowns. Junior Scooter Harrington has one grab for 10 yards.

Smith collected eight passes for 210 yards last week against Utah, both career highs.

All three players stand 6-5 or taller and are the latest in line of outstanding Cardinal tight ends, with four currently playing in the NFL. Zach Ertz is having a monster season with Philadelphia and has hauled in 10 or more catches in each of the last four games. Austin Hooper secured nine passes for Atlanta last week, while Levine Toilolo and Dalton Schultz play for Detroit and Dallas, respectively.

"Part of it is we're doing what they're going to be doing in the NFL," Stanford tight ends coach Morgan Turner said when asked why the program has produced so many talented performers, including Coby Fleener, most recently playing with New Orleans."It's going to be very similar, if not the exact same terminology, so it makes that transition easier for them. It also attracts guys who have that dream and desire to play at the pro level."

Mastering the position is no easy task.

"It's not easy, mentally," he said. "We're able to get some smart guys who can handle a lot and it really broadens their skill set."

Asked what elevates Smith into the elite tight end category, Turner said, "He makes the tough catch. Going up and getting it, hands in his face. He made one against Utah with an arm between his hands. It's a skill he has and not many people have it."
 


JJ ascending: Senior wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside has taken his game to another level this season. He ranks No. 2 in the country with eight touchdown catches on 30 catches. Arcega-Whiteside's 541 receiving yards rank No. 15 nationally, and he averages 90.2 per game, the 25th-highest figure in the nation.

Arcega-Whiteside now ranks fourth all-time in scoring receptions at Stanford with 22. 

Scouting the Sun Devils: In a series that began in 1978, Arizona State leads, 17-14. Stanford has won five of the last six meetings, including a 34-24 home decision last year when Bryce Love rushed for a school-record 301 yards. The Cardinal last visited Tempe in 2014, falling 26-10.

The Sun Devils are sparked by sophomore running back Eno Benjamin, who was added to the Maxwell Award Watch list this week. He has run for 736 yards and six touchdowns and set the single-game school rushing record this season by gaining 312 against Oregon State. Benjamin leads the nation in missed tackles forced with 48.

Statistically, Stanford is tied for 36th in the nation in scoring defense (22.0) and is 95th in scoring offense (25.7). Arizona State is 35th in scoring defense (21.2) and 68th in scoring offense (29.8).

Frosh update: Seven true freshmen have seen game action: defensive end Thomas Booker (6), defensive end Andres Fox (1), offensive tackle, Grant Pease (1), quarterback Jack West (1), cornerback Kendall Williamson (3), wide receiver Michael Wilson (6) and running back Justus Woods (1).

The new NCAA redshirt rule allows true freshmen to play four games without losing a redshirt year.


 
Quotable
"Nobody wants to be 4-2. We have to take the season where we want it to go." Paulson Adebo