Stanford Cardinal quarterback job unsettled heading into opener, but not for lack of candidates

STANFORD – Some quarterbacks might be upset when they drive the team inside the 5, only to see someone else come in to finish the possession. But Stanford junior Ashton Daniels said he was thankful when run-first quarterback Justin Lamson would take over the red zone offense at times last season.

“It helps you to not get beat up in those short-yardage, goal-line situations,” Daniels said. “You’re not just taking every single hit, and it saves your body. Always thankful for the people who take on that role.”

That team-first attitude and positive thinking have helped Daniels, who once again finds himself in an open competition during fall camp despite starting 10 games last season.

Less than one week before the Cardinal host TCU in the season opener Friday, Stanford coach Troy Taylor has yet to announce a starter between Daniels, Lamson, and freshman Elijah Brown.

“Ashton’s a really good player, had a really good camp,” said Taylor, who is also the quarterbacks coach. “Justin’s had a great fall camp, and Elijah’s had a fantastic camp too. Competition in our program is going to be at every single position.”

Taylor may play multiple QBs in a game, like he did 11 times last season.

“I always use that as motivation,” Daniels said. “I know I can’t be content, the job’s not done, I have to continue to get better every single day. That’s pushed me and it’s pushed everyone in the quarterback room. They know the job is up for grabs.”

But Daniels is expected to take the first snaps. He completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,247 yards and 11 touchdowns (to eight interceptions) last season, his first as a starter, with five of the scoring throws going more than 40 yards. He also finished with 292 rushing yards, the second-most in the Pac-12 for a quarterback, behind Lamson.

Daniels threw for 367 yards, ran for 81 yards and accounted for three touchdowns against eventual national championship finalist Washington, and threw for 396 yards and four TDs in a double-overtime win over Colorado.

During the offseason, he said he has more confidence running the offense, developing chemistry with his receivers and being consistent in his reads in his second year under Taylor. He has also focused on his footwork during the offseason after taking too many sacks in 2023.

“My footwork has allowed me to get to reads quicker and deliver the ball on time,” Daniels said. “Also it’s helped with accuracy. I was a little nonchalant with my footwork last year.”

Besides the physical development, Daniels has also taken on more of a leadership role. When the team had a lackluster practice last Friday, it was Daniels who pulled the offense together and told them to pick it up.

Daniels’s development and comfort in the offense hasn’t been enough to change expectations for Stanford in its new conference. Coming off three straight 3-9 seasons, the Cardinal was picked to finish last out of 17 teams in the ACC preseason media poll.

“We like being the underdogs because that makes us work harder,” Daniels said. “It’s something that you put in the drawer and save it for later, so when we are out there being successful, we can always pull that back out as a little bit of evidence.”

After beating out Lamson in fall camp last season, Daniels has been pushed by Brown this time. The early enrollee went 42-2 as a four-year starter at Mater Dei and was ranked the No. 7 quarterback prospect in the country by Rivals.

“He was here for spring football, which helped,” Taylor said. “His demeanor is really good, he’s really accurate, he’s got incredible anticipation, and his demeanor is just really the same. He’s not super high or low – he kind of stays right in that (middle) area which is what you want from a quarterback.”

Brown went 42-2 as a four-year starter at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei and has quickly adjusted to the speed and size of college defenses.

“He’s so confident in his ability, not in that arrogant way, just a quiet confidence,” Taylor said. “And he’s got really good anticipation and he’s extremely accurate, and that translates to all levels.”

Whoever is behind center will face a challenging environment – the Cardinal must navigate new opponents and increased travel with just one preseason all-ACC first-team player, receiver Elic Ayomanor. But Daniels looks back to last season’s game at Colorado as proof that the Cardinal are capable of overachieving.

Stanford trailed 29-0 at halftime in Boulder, the biggest halftime deficit ever overcome in the Pac-12.

“We know what we can do, we know our potential,” Daniels said. “Hopefully we’ll never get into that situation again being down 29 points, but we know that no matter what, we can always fight back as long as we believe and trust in the process.”