Andrew Luck: His Return Means Stanford Is No. 1 Team For 2011 Season

Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford, and the Cardinal have to be considered the top-ranked team heading into 2011.

Luck shocked the college football world, and surely many NFL scouts, when he announced his plans to return to school and finish his degree. Luck was the top-ranked quarterback in the draft and the likely No. 1 selection.

But that’s all for not, now. We’ll have to wait until the 2012 NFL Draft to see where the Cardinal quarterback lands. Now, the debate moves on to just how good Luck can make Stanford next year.

Luck quarterbacked the Cardinal to a 12-1 record and a BCS Bowl Game victory in the defeat of Virginia Tech Monday. Over the course of the season, the Heisman Award runner-up amassed 3,338 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air. His 170.16 passer rating was equally impressive.

While there’s no reason to think Luck will have a down year, it stands to reason that he’ll have trouble duplicating the monster numbers he put forth this season.

The obvious variable in whether or not Luck can succeed at a similar rate next year is the potential departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh. The hard-nosed former quarterback certainly has had an impression on Luck.

As news breaks of Harbaugh being courted by other college football programs and NFL teams, it’s a safe bet that Harbaugh will not be back at Stanford next season.

How much will that effect Luck and the Cardinal?

In my opinion, not too much.

Luck is the best quarterback in college football, and he’ll be that player next year too, barring injury, of course. The success he’s had so far at the NCAA Division 1 level, and the maturity seen in his decision to return to school and wait on the NFL, makes me think that there’s nothing but success ahead for Stanford and Andrew Luck.