Stanford recruiting class can have a rare immediate impact

Significant playing time for true freshmen has been a rarity at Stanford over the past 10 years. The likes of Andrew Luck and Solomon Thomas didn't even see the field in their first seasons on campus, while Christian McCaffrey -- who would post one of the greatest campaigns in college football history as a sophomore -- was little more than an afterthought as a freshman. Before November hit, he averaged only about one carry per game.

But based on the way that the Cardinal's 2017 recruiting class has shaped up, that trend may be changing. Stanford's coaching staff did insert true freshman offensive lineman Nate Herbig into the starting lineup midway through last season, and the program's…