Stanford head football coach Troy Taylor and his staff landed their top quarterback target in the 2025 class on Monday, a verbal from Murrieta (Calif.) Valley Top247 signal-caller Bear Bachmeier, who chose to play in Palo Alto over a national offer list.
The four-star Bachmeier threw for 2,613 yards and 21 touchdowns with another 631 rushing yards and seven scores. He emerged as a national prospect following a sophomore campaign where he threw for 2,853 yards and 28 touchdowns with 644 rushing yards and another 18 scores.
Now Taylor and company want to build a special class around him.
Offensive line is going to be a major point of emphasis with Oakland (Calif.) High offensive tackle Siosiua Vete already in the fold. The Cardinal are in on some of the nation’s best at the position including 247Sports’ No. 2 offensive tackle Josh Petty, No. 3 offensive tackle Andrew Babalola and highly-recruited road-grader Josh Williams out of Pennsylvania.
“I like Stanford,” Petty told 247Sports last weekend before emphasizing what he’s looking for in a school. “Academics is important to me. My dad has instilled that in me since I was young. Player development. Personal development and spiritual development and a coach I can get along with and take me to the next level.”
“Stanford is just a great place with great people,” Babalola said. “I’ve developed a good relationship with the offensive line coaches, Coach Netter and Coach Viane, and as well Preston Pehrson. Just connecting with them and getting to learn more and more about all of the opportunities a place like Stanford brings on and off the field, the academics, the networking, it’s been great.”
The point of attack in general is a priority as Stanford is in the middle of it for some of the top defensive linemen in the country as well.
“I love that a prestigious program like Stanford is recruiting me and a chance to play there is a big honor,” Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair’s Landon Rink said. “Stanford is a potential fit because of the development, culture and overall environment!”
“The exciting thing about Stanford is the opportunities and doors that the degree can open,” Princeton (NJ) The Hun School’s Kole Briehler said. “Also with having the most players drafted in the PAC 12 you are also able to develop on the field. Coach Kolodziej is coming out of Wisconsin where he coached some great d-linemen.”
Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards Top247 defensive lineman and Florida commit Jalen Wiggins is another Stanford will keep chipping away at.
Taylor and company have a keen eye on a few in-state recruits.
“I like the tenure of the Stanford staff and the experience they bring coaching and winning at all levels,” La Verne (Calif.) Bonita Top247 linebacker Noah Mikhail said. “I got a great feel for Coach D when he came down to visit in January. A Stanford degree definitely sets you up for life after football as well.
“Their program is only going up,” Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei Top247 cornerback Chuck McDonald said. “They got a good 2024 class with my teammates Elijah Brown and Marcus Brown and I’m just looking forward to seeing what they do in the upcoming seasons. What makes Stanford a potential fit for me is their education is second to none and also their football program is elite. I also liked their move of going to the ACC and I feel like they’re going to do great things in the future.”
Other top targets for Stanford include Montvale (NJ) St. Joseph Regional Top247 cornerback Jahmir Joseph, Nashville (Tenn.) Lipscomb Academy safety CJ Jimcoily, Orlando (Fla.) Jones receiver Vernell Brown III and Washington (DC) Gonzaga cornerback Lonnie McAllister.
“The opportunity to earn one of the most respected degrees in the world and to play football in a top conference like the ACC is very enticing,” McAllister said. “I’m not sure that there is another school that can offer me what Stanford can. Having the chance to live in a city like Palo Alto makes this opportunity even more attractive. I think Stanford is a fit for me because I’m a leader, and Stanford is a place that forges leaders and a place where students compete with and are motivated by other future CEOs and trailblazers.”
Brown will definitely take an official visit to Stanford per his father Vernell Jr.
“Stanford is a pretty unique place, pretty unique opportunity,” the elder Brown said. “Just everything they bring to the table, now you look at the list of millionaires that come from that school is astronomical. The amount of Fortune 500 companies where the CEOs graduated from Stanford is another intriguing factor. What we didn’t realize the amount of NFL players Stanford put in the league. The difference between Stanford and other Power Five instititutions their kids stay in the league. A lot of those were alarming stats and again the opportunity from Stanford is unique not a lot of people get that opportunity.”
