The off-season: Predicting Stanford football’s 2025 offensive starters

With the winter cycle of the transfer portal nearing completion, senior staff writer Kaushik Sampath predicts who the offensive starters will be for Stanford football heading into the 2025 season. This piece provides a position-by-position breakdown of the potential first-string offense.

QB Sophomore Elijah Brown

Brown played during most of the game against SMU and even started against Wake Forest after head coach Troy Taylor benched Ashton Daniels. Brown struggled, however, only completing 50% of his passes against the Mustangs and threw an early interception against the Demon Deacons before being benched.

Despite a shaky start, unless incoming freshman Bear Bachmeier delivers an exceptional performance in camp or Stanford secures a quarterback from the transfer portal, Brown’s year of experience in Taylor’s offense is likely to give him the edge.

RB1 Sophomore Micah Ford

Ford carried the ball 76 times last season, the most out of any running back on the roster. With his six-foot, 210 pound stature, Ford has the size necessary to withstand the wear-and-tear of the football season.

RB2 Sophomore Chris Davis Jr. 

Davis averaged 5.3 yards per carry last year, accumulating 288 yards while splitting carries with Micah Ford along with quarterbacks Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson. His decisive, one-cut style of running could be an asset with a team that lacks great offensive line play.

WR1 Sophomore Emmett Mosley Jr.

Mosley emerged as a standout for the Cardinal last season as a freshman, racking up 332 receiving yards over Stanford’s final three games.The Southern California product appears primed to be the Cardinal’s next NFL draft pick at receiver after Elic Ayomanor declared for the draft after this past season.

WR2 Freshman JonAnthony Hall

A top-65 prospect according to 247sports, Hall projects to start in a receiving room that lacks top-end talent other than Mosley. Hall has the athletic potential and ball skills to be a top-three round NFL draft pick. 

WR3 Fifth-year David Pantelis

Pantelis chose Stanford in the transfer portal over other top programs like Missouri and Michigan. The former Yale wide receiver appears the best of Stanford’s four transfer receivers and possesses great ball skills for a slot receiver.

TE1 Senior Sam Roush

Roush was third on the team in receptions last season, hauling in 40 catches for 334 yards. Given his veteran status and production during the latter half of the season, Roush’s starting role should be safe.  

TE2 Fifth-year Brendan Doyle

The Bay Area native decided to spend his last year of eligibility on the Farm after transferring from Memphis. He caught 13 passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns last season, but will primarily be used as an in-line blocking tight end at Stanford.

LT Redshirt junior Niki Prongos

The former UCLA walk-on started eight games for the Bruins this past season, making most of his starts at left guard. Despite being unknown at the beginning of the year, Prongos began receiving NFL attention this past season.

RT Redshirt freshman Kai Greer

After committing to Stanford out of high school, Greer eventually opted to enroll at Georgia Tech for his freshman year before heading to the Farm. With the loss of Luke Baklenko at right tackle and the dearth of talent at the position, Greer will likely start in his first season with the Cardinal.

RG Junior Simione Pale

Pale started seven games at right guard his freshman year before being a starter all 12 games during his sophomore season. Stanford did not bring in any guards or centers through the transfer portal so far, therefore Pale can be safely circled in as a starter in 2025.

LG Sophomore Kahlil House

Despite playing left tackle during his true freshman year, House was recruited out of high school to play guard. With the addition of two new tackles on the roster, I predict House will move back to guard after enduring some struggles at tackle.

C Senior Jake Maikkula

After fifth-year center Levi Rogers went down last season, Maikkula stepped in to play center for the Cardinal. After Stanford struck out on landing Tyson Ruffins and other interior offensive lineman through the transfer portal, Maikkula appears to be the Cardinal’s likely starter at center in 2025.

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