SIGNING DAY COVERAGE: Live preview | Announcement guide | Farrell's 10 bold predictions | Five players who could flip| Teams that should, shouldn't be excited | Rivals Roundtable | Craziest moments in signing day history
THE SITUATION
In recent years Stanford has evolved into a national recruiting power and the Cardinal flexed some muscle once again, reaching into Texas to land Rivals250 wide receiver Elijah Higgins. The Cardinal won a national battle for Higgins that included Ohio State and most recently Texas and Florida. The playmaking wide receiver steps in at a position of need for the school, who is looking to replace former playmakers J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Trent Irwin.
WHY IT'S BIG FOR THE CARDINAL
Higgins commitment is worth celebrating for a number of reasons, most notably what he will bring the team on the field. A big, physical wide receiver, Higgins is capable of out-muscling smaller defensive backs at the line of scrimmage and for jump balls, something that has been a staple of the Stanford offense in recent years. From an off-the-field standpoint, Higgins is yet another elite prospect that is equally impressive in the classroom as he is on the field, which isn't exactly easy for Stanford to find. Identifying him early and surviving a late push from hometown school Texas should have Cardinal fans praising David Shaw and his staff for a job well done.
WHY IT HURTS FOR TEXAS AND FLORIDA
It's obvious why the Longhorns will feel stung by this one, as Higgins lives in Austin and has been on campus numerous times during the recruiting process. In the end, the proximity to home may have actually hurt the Cardinal, as Higgins was looking to broaden his horizons and couldn't pass on the academic opportunity at Stanford. Florida will also be kicking itself after missing on Higgins, because he raved about his time in Gainesville and the Gators did fit the bill of being an option far from home. The thought of playing in the SEC also intrigued Higgins, and while the Gators coaches did a good job of being a finalist, they still came up empty and that can be tough to swallow.
