Stanford Football: The Top 10 Players for the 2012 Season

Stanford has arguably had its best two seasons in the program's history the last two years, but the 2012 roster will look a lot different this time around. Andrew Luck is no longer the starting quarterback, and he took many other key players with him to the NFL.

The Cardinal does have 13 starters returning from last season, including seven on the defensive side of the ball. While many seem quick to write this team off, there is a still a lot of talent on both sides of the ball that other teams better respect.

As we get closer to kicking off the 2012 college football season, here are the top 10 players for the Stanford Cardinal—players who will be key to another successful season.

10. Kicker: Jordan Williamson

While you may remember Jordan Williamson missing three kicks in the loss to Oklahoma State, the fact is that he was one of the most reliable kickers all season long. He was a 2011 All-Conference player for a reason, only missing three kicks all season leading up to the BCS bowl matchup.

Stanford unfortunately learned the hard way that a field goal kicker can cost you football games. The good news is that Williamson is a solid kicker; he just happened to have a bad game at the worst possible moment. He will be fine and should provide the Cardinal with a solid option on special teams in 2012.

9. Wide Receiver: Ty Montgomery

Who said Stanford doesn't have wide receivers?

Ty Montgomery could emerge quickly as one of the better receivers in the entire Pac-12 if he can build off of a successful true freshman season.

In 2011, Montgomery caught 24 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns. Now, with a year under his belt, the sophomore will likely end up having an even bigger season.

Montgomery is a bigger receiver at 6'2", 205 pounds, and he has decent speed to match. With a lot of attention going to players such as USC receiver Robert Woods and Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas, Montgomery is a receiver you don't want to sleep on heading into 2012. 

8. Tight End: Zach Ertz

There is one thing that this offense doesn't lack, and that is talented tight ends. Zach Ertz is a big target at 6'6", 250 pounds, and he can get down field in a hurry. He runs excellent routes, blocks well and should emerge as a go-to guy in this new offense.

In limited playing time last season, Ertz caught 22 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Look for him to have an even bigger role in the offense this season and improve on last year's numbers.

7. Defensive End: Ben Gardner

Defensive end Ben Gardner is somebody who brings intensity to this defense and never takes a play off. He also has an extremely high motor to go along with a solid skill set. He was a 2011 All-Conference player, racking up 35 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries.

Gardner is an athletic player who gets in the opponents backfield quite a bit. Look for the junior to become one of the leaders on this defense and have another productive year for this Stanford defense.

6. Left Guard: David Yankey

One of the reasons the Cardinal was so good last season was because of a ridiculous offensive line that helped protect a ridiculous quarterback. Now that many of those players are no longer around, players such as David Yankey have to step up.

Yankey enters his sophomore season after starting at left guard last year. He will be one of the leaders of this revamped group, and he has the ability to play left tackle if the coaching staff absolutely feels the need to switch him. Overall, Yankey is very important for this offense to succeed this season.

5. Linebacker: Shayne Skov

Linebacker Shayne Skov had a very productive season in 2010 and looked to become one of the better defensive players in 2011. That was, until he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 and his junior season was cut short. Now that he enters his senior season, you should expect a similar season to 2010. 

Skov is an emotional player who gives you everything he has every minute of every game. He is a big boy at 6'3", 251 pounds, is very athletic and is a flat-out difference-maker on defense. Expect a big year from the senior linebacker this year.

4. Right Tackle: Cameron Fleming

The quarterback position is up for grabs, which means that Stanford will rely heavily on its running game. And that means that the offensive line must do a great job up front. Right tackle Cameron Fleming is the perfect guy to open up some running lanes at 6'6", 308 pounds.

Despite only being a sophomore, Fleming should be considered one of the better right tackles in college football. Running back Stepfan Taylor will do a lot of running behind this massive sophomore this season.

3. Tight End: Levine Toilolo

Stanford didn't only lose its starting quarterback in Andrew Luck; it also lost one of its more talented receivers in tight end Coby Fleener. The good news for Cardinal fans is that tight end Levine Toilolo isn't a bad replacement and should have a very productive junior year.

Toilolo is a mammoth of a target at 6'8", 265 pounds. He started in 10 games last year and finished with 25 receptions for 343 yards and six touchdowns.

With the receiver depth being an issue this season, look for the Cardinal starting quarterback to lean on the junior tight end quite a bit this season.

2. Linebacker: Chase Thomas

Linebacker Case Thomas is one of a few seniors left on this Stanford defense, so he is the unquestionable leader of this squad. He is also the playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, finishing last season with 17.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He earned first-team All-Pac 12 last season as well.

Stanford had a top-30 defense in the country last year, and with players such as Thomas returning, it should have the talent to repeat those efforts.

1. Running Back: Stepfan Taylor

Stanford may have lost Andrew Luck and several other players that were key to last year's offensive success, but it does return two-time 1,000-yard rusher Stepfan Taylor. He rushed for over 100 yards in six different games last season and will be counted on to become a workhorse for this offense his senior year.

If he can have the same success on the ground that he has had the last two seasons, Stanford may not fall off the map as quickly as many believe it will.