The Stanford Cardinal could be well represented in the first round of the 2012 Draft.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com reports that guard David DeCastro will follow his quarterback Andrew Luck in forgoing his senior season. DeCastro, like all Stanford players, has been asked to put off meetings with agents until after the Fiesta Bowl, but a source tells Rang that “it isn’t a matter of if, but when” DeCastro officially throws his hat in the ring.
DeCastro was a first-team All-American this season and was a two-time member of the Pac-10/12 all-conference team. That kind of productivity is why it isn’t surprising to see DeCastro buck trends as an interior offensive lineman going pro.
Maurkice Pouncey, Branden Albert and Chilo Rachel are the only ones to get drafted since 2008, but DeCastro gets high grades from many draft forecasters who see him as a possible first-round pick. His experience clearing holes for a pro-style run offense will likely make him appealing to teams early in the selection process. If tackle Jonathan Martin also decides to go pro, there’s a good chance that Stanford will have three players off the board before the end of the first round.