"We Walk!": #3 LB
Brent Etiz
Enthusiasm oozed
through the cell phone as The Bootleg interviewed Stanford's incoming freshman
walk-on linebacker Brent Etiz. The third profiled player in the “We Walk” series
decommitted from a storied Ivy League program and a full-ride to accept a spot
on the 2009 Cardinal football roster.
“Pac-10 football has
been a dream of mine ever since I was young, and I think that’s the same for a
lot of kids,” Etiz said. “Getting out there with the best and smartest players
in the country, surrounding myself with the elite, it’s going to be good
times.”
A three-year starter
at Buchanan High (Clovis, Calif.), Etiz helped the Bears to consecutive
Tri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) titles. He finished his senior year
with 126.0 tackles (81 solo), 21.0 tackles-for-loss, 7.0 sacks, four
interceptions and a trio of forced fumbles. Etiz earned league Defensive Player
of the Year honors in 2008 and is Buchanan’s single-season solo and assisted
tackle record-holder.
The 6-0, 220-pound
Etiz hopes to make an immediate impact as a freshman, but isn’t impatient for
playing time and understands his role on the team.
“You know it’s going
to be a completely different ball game; it’s not high school anymore,” he said.
“I’m just ready to get out there, compete and have a good time with the guys. I
am going to drop down and work my butt off every day, and make my teammates
better. Most of all, it’s just about getting wins. I want to help get the team
to a bowl game this season. And I think we are going to do that this year and
the years following.”
Scout.com’s West
Recruiting Analyst Brandon Huffman believes that Etiz could see playing time in
his first season.
“I love Etiz's nose
for the ball,” said Huffman. “He's physical and aggressive. He's pretty agile,
moves well sideline-to-sideline and does a solid job in pass coverage. I think
early he'll be a special teams contributor, but down the line I can see him
getting a lot of playing time.”
Etiz and his family
will be traveling from central California to Stanford on Saturday. Although
he never took an official visit to The Farm, Etiz is a frequent visitor to the
area, attending many Stanford sporting events with grandparents that live in
Palo
Alto.
“I am looking forward
to starting something new, the college life,” he said. “We are supposed to
check-in at 1:00pm and get the dorm room stuff all set up. We have a team dinner
at 5:00pm on Saturday and then we start practice and camp on
Monday.”
But these Cardinal
football activities were nearly excluded from the gameplan for young
Etiz. After committing to play his college ball in New
Jersey for the Princeton Tigers,
Etiz was admitted into Stanford in early February and ultimately made the tough
call to the Tiger coaching staff about his decision.
“It was always
Stanford for me from the beginning,” said Etiz. “The other schools were great
and I loved them, but ultimately the proximity of Stanford being so close to
home and playing in the Pac-10 was too much. You can’t compare Stanford’s campus
to anyone’s, and academically if you go there for four years you are pretty much
set.”
Along with Princeton, UC Davis had also extended a scholarship offer
to Etiz. Yale, Cornell and Columbia were also interested, but Etiz said
once he committed to the Cardinal he told schools not to even
bother.
One helping hand in
that process was former Cardinal Josh Madsen who played free safety for Stanford
in the mid-90s. The original “Mad Dog” is currently an anesthesiologist and
worked with Brent’s father, Bill. Etiz said that Madsen, who obviously had a
"pre-existing relationship" with the Etiz family, was very helpful
throughout his decision.
“Once he found out I
had an opportunity to play at Stanford [Josh] said don’t pass it up,” Etiz
stated. “He actually called me shortly after I committed and said welcome to the
family. It’s been really cool to have someone to relate with and tell me the ins
and outs of the university.”
Etiz said that his
summer has been filled with preparation and anticipation. His academic prowess
has continued through the warm months as he has already combed through a handful
of school books for classes that begin this fall. Etiz held a 4.5 GPA in high
school and was the valedictorian of his class. His classroom leadership
qualities carried onto the football field where he served as a team captain for
three varsity seasons.
As a freshman
football player in the Pac-10, it could be difficult to be a leader and voice an
opinion. Etiz is confident that he will be able to contribute in that department
regardless of his class or age.
“I’ve met all the
older guys and it’s a great group of guys, it’s a family,” he said. “One thing
about the Stanford group is that it’s not really segregated by year or class.
It’s a cohesive unit so there’s not really segregation between the younger guys
and the older guys. Everyone just comes in and does their part because we are
all pulling in one direction.
“And if you want to
be successful and get to a bowl game, that’s what you have to do. Everyone is
going to get out there and lead the team the way they can. Everyone knows what
their leadership role is and staying together as a group is going to be a key to
our success.”
Etiz is beyond pumped
about playing in the Pac-10, but understands that college football isn’t going
to be anything like prep football. Like many, he points to one area that he
thinks will be the biggest transition he will experience.
“I would definitely
have to say it will be the speed of the game,” said Etiz. “The speed changes so
much you have to be so quick on your feet and your reactions have to be right
on. You just have to make a decision and go, there’s no hesitation. I’m going to
be playing with the big boys now so you just have to keep the pad level low and
get going. There’s no doubt about it that these are the best athletes in the
country and you have to go out there and do your best.”
Some of the
aforementioned "best athletes" will be joining Etiz as the outstanding Stanford
freshman class settles in this weekend. Although he’s never played with or
against anyone on the team, Etiz is quickly becoming acquainted with his
Cardinal brethren.
“I’ve met a lot of
the guys throughout the summer,” he said. “We’ve all been chatting on Facebook
and we’re all eager to get this thing started on Monday. It’s just like a new
group of 20 brothers that you are going to be with the next four years and share
the best experiences of your life with, on and off the
field.”