Evaluating Stanfords' class

Stanford continues to add quality across the board to an already talented squad. Last year they had a banner class which included one of the most impressive offensive lineman hauls ever.

Owusu could be a real threat for Stanford.

David Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh, who I hear has a big game today.

This year they are a little light on the number of total commits and appear to be close to finished.

Here is a quick look at the current class and what might be the steal of 2013 for Stanford. The Cardinal have 12 commits currently.

Steal of the Class

It was hard to pick one out of the group for Stanford. They have done a solid job recruiting once again. However wide receiver Francis Owusu and defensive end Austin Hooper are two big pickups.

Owusu will carry on the tradition of the family playing at Stanford. He had several other quality offers but chose to stick with the Cardinal and made an early commitment. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound prep is a very well rounded in all aspects of his game. He's got ideal size and great football savvy. It would be ideal for him to carry a little more top-end speed, but he's certainly not slow.

Owusu will be a very nice addition for 4-star quarterback commit Ryan Burns.

On the flip side of the ball, the Cardinal are never small at any position. Austin Hooper is not the largest defensive end but is quick and versatile. He could become a terror with his first step and ability to get to the quarterback. Hooper has a lot of upside and Cardinal fans should be excited about his addition to this class.

Addressing the Needs

Last season Stanford loaded up along the lines, both sides of the ball. This year they brought in a little more firepower with a pair of tight end and wide receiver commitments. Couple that with the high upside of quarterback Ryan Burns and the Cardinal could continue to have Pac-12 success.

The linebacker class also got a boost from plus-sized inside linebackers Kevin Palma and Peter Kalambayi. Kalambayi is already 6-foot-4, 240-pound and is an absolute tackling machine. The duo could be a key component to a stingy defense for years to come.