STANFORD, Calif. – Junior strong safety Stuart Head is exploring all options during his time on The Farm. He has spent the last two summers interning for Dr. Michael Fischbein in the cardiothoracic lab at Stanford. Dr. Fischbein is working with a murine model of Marfan Syndrome to study aortic aneurysm formation via biological assays including gene expression.
"I gained a solid understanding of what factors might cause failed heart surgeries," Head said. "We analyzed patient data, finding similarities and differences, then thought about how to fix their situations. I felt this was something I could apply myself to in the medical field someday."
Head was joined in the lab this summer by sophomore inside linebacker Jake Lynch, sophomore defensive end Trey LaBounty and sophomore offensive tackle Grant Pease. Junior fullback Houston Heimuli also knows his way around.
"Dr. Fischbein was so welcoming, and I love working with the staff," said Head. "My first year, we were more hands on and got to be lab assistants and did gene typing and sectioning for experiments they were working on. This year, we were doing more data entry and patient records, so I kind of got to see both sides."
Initially, Head was leaning toward pre-med and took human biology classes. But he switched to political science – the same major as his roommate, junior defensive end Dylan Boles.
"I took a bunch of classes and loved it," Head said. "Now I kind of want to go to law school and maybe get into health or medical law."
Head doubts there would be as many options for football players at other universities.
"I don't think I'd be able to do this at any other school," he said. "Just the people that connected me about what you can do at Stanford. I hope young guys and recruits pick up on that and learn you can actually do that during your summers while playing football."
Head was projected for early playing time this season but was injured during fall camp. He has played the last three games and earned his first start against UCLA.
"Stuart's been great," said Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw. "First on the special teams side, we've missed his speed and athleticism on the coverage units. He does a great job of closing down on plays or at least tying up multiple blockers so somebody else can make a play."
Added fifth-year senior outside linebacker Casey Toohill, "It's great to have him back. The guy hits hard. He's a great tackler, fast and athletic. I'm excited for his future."
Rehabbing an injury is never fun, but Head made productive use of his down time.
"Coach (Duane) Akina emphasizes ways to get mental reps and experience when you're hurt," he said of the Couch Family Defensive Backs Coach. "Finding the best way to improve yourself and your game and not taking steps back. Guys in my group have all been out and we can all relate to each other. When you're out, you have to lean on your brother more, so I think it brings our team closer together. Just keep that standard high … that's the goal."
Head plays like heat-seeking missile.
"I feel great and haven't had any setbacks," he said. "Malik (Antoine, senior free safety) has done a great job running the show back there, but it's great being back."
Injury update: Senior kicker Jet Toner is out for the season after sustaining a lower body injury while covering a kickoff in the first quarter against UCLA.
Senior quarterback K.J. Costello, who has been sidelined since the second half of the Oregon game on Sept. 21, has practiced this week, sharing duties with sophomore Jack West.
"We're hopeful," Shaw said of Costello after practice Wednesday night. "We'll know how he feels over the next couple of days. K.J. is somewhere between questionable and probable."
Junior Davis Mills has been ruled out.
Shaw said sophomore strong safety Kendall Williamson could practice this week and might be available for Arizona.
Triple duty: For the foreseeable future, true freshman Ryan Sanborn will handle punting and kicking chores. He performed admirably in both areas after Toner was injured.
To add depth, freshman Alexander Thorpe joined the team this week and will wear No. 39. His father, Allen, played soccer at Stanford.
Additionally, freshman wide receiver Diego Preciado has been kicking in practice. He kicked and punted during his sophomore season at Classical Academy in Escondido, Calif.
Young again: For the second straight game, true freshmen Walter Rouse (left tackle), Barrett Miller (left guard) and Jake Hornibrook (right guard) will start on the offensive line.
"I think our young guys are all going to be really good," Shaw said. "They have their moments where inexperience shows up playing against guys that are a little bit older that have a few more tricks. Every snap they play is a learning experience."
Shaw praised the play of junior right tackle Foster Sarell and junior center Drew Dalman.
"Foster Sarell is playing his best football," said Shaw. "Drew has been really good all season."
Hitting pay dirt.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YGQLu4QuhS
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) October 20, 2019
Contingency plan: Boles is now practicing with the offensive line to provide added depth. Additionally, junior tight end Tucker Fisk is taking reps with the group.
"If I'm the guy they want to step up, I'll do it," said Fisk. "Hopefully, I don't have to. Just kind of the next guy up mentality."
Fisk is often used as a blocker and said the transition is manageable.
"A lot of the things we do are pretty much the same," he said. "As far as liking it, it's something new.
And anytime I'm learning something new on the football field it's a good time."
To add more depth, junior Jake Koffman joined the team this week. He threw the discus for the track and field team the last two years and was a team captain. He will wear No. 54.
?????????#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/E32NOwMXeY
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) October 20, 2019
Scouting the Wildcats: For the second week in a row, the Stanford (3-4, 2-3 Pac-12) defense will be tasked with containing a dynamic and athletic quarterback. Last week, it was Dorian Thompson-Robinson; this week it is Khalil Tate of Arizona (4-3, 2-2 Pac-12).
The teams meet Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on Reunion Homecoming.
"They've had their ups and downs," Shaw said. "There are moments when Khalil Tate looks like one of the best offensive skill players in America. Being able to corral him and keep him under wraps is a priority.
"On the defensive side, they've got great movement, size up front, and speed in the secondary."
Team recognition: In 1999, Stanford surprised many by winning the Pac-10 Championship and played in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 28 years. Led by record-setting quarterback Todd Husak, now a radio analyst for Cardinal football games, the Cardinal went 8-4 under Tyrone Willingham and closed the regular season with victories against Arizona State, Cal and Notre Dame.
Husak set a single-season school passing mark that still stands by throwing for 3,712 yards. His favorite target was Troy Walters, a consensus All-American who won the Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's top wide receiver.
Team members will be recognized on the field during Saturday's game.
Extra points … "Defensively, the majority of the game we played really well," said Shaw of his team's performance last week. "We just allowed too many explosive plays." UCLA hurt Stanford with five plays of 20-plus yards and two of 50-plus … On offense: "Too many negative plays," he said … On West's performance: "Pre-snap, he was really good. Post-snap, didn't play as well as he wanted to or as well as we need him to."
Quotable
"I'm not in the business of raising people's spirits. These guys have a finite amount of time to play this game. The high percentage of them understand that, appreciate that, and play and practice with energy and passion. At the same time, that's the bare minimum. It's coming ready to play, fired up to play and excited to play." – David Shaw