One of the largest dominoes in the 2016 recruiting class fell Thursday, as Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic quarterback K.J. Costello announced for the Stanford Cardinal over the USC Trojans and Michigan Wolverines.
Elite QB recruit K.J. Costello commits to Stanford over USC, Michigan
Stanford beat out rival USC and former coach Jim Harbaugh for the elite QB.
The 6’4, 213-pound Costello is rated the No. 34 prospect in the country by the 247Sports Composite, the No. 4 player in the state of California and the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the 2016 class. He will be the highest-rated recruit in whichever class he pledges to. He has the ideal frame and a big arm to develop into a college star, and Stanford’s attack certainly fits his pro-style skill set.
Costello visited Stanford at least four times, most recently Jan. 24, according to his 247Sports timeline page. He visited USC at least three times, most recently March 7. Michigan offered last May, and he took a visit soon after in June.
In the end, Stanford has been all-in on Costello for some time, even electing to not sign a quarterback in last year’s recruiting class. That move sent a clear message about how much the Cardinal wanted Costello, but also about playing time. And Stanford signed only two combined QBs in the 2013 and 2014 cycles. USC signed two elite prospects last year in Sam Darnold and Ricky Town.
Costello was the top available pro-style quarterback left in the class, and his commitment could spark the other available passers to follow suit and make their decisions soon as colleges move from their top QB targets to their No. 2 choices, which spurs lesser programs to move on to their No. 3 choices.
