Rising up in Lake Oswego, 100 miles north of the College of Oregon, it didn’t appear something would preserve Casey Filkins’ household from cheering for the Geese. Till this Saturday. Perhaps.
Filkins would be the beginning operating again when the Cardinal visits Oregon Saturday night time (8 p.m. FS1), and Filkins expects about 25 family and friends members at Autzen Stadium.
“They’ve all informed me that they’ll be rooting for me on Saturday,” Filkins mentioned. “They clearly wish to see me do effectively and have success. In order that’s cool to listen to that. I do know they’re nonetheless gonna be rooting for the Geese a little bit bit, truthfully, however I’m simply trying ahead to going on the market and enjoying in entrance of them.”
Filkins gave his supporters quite a bit to cheer about in his first begin for the Cardinal ((1-2, 0-2 Pac-12) final week in opposition to Washington. The redshirt sophomore had 100 yards on 20 carries filling in for E.J. Smith, who suffered a season-ending harm in Week 2 in opposition to USC.
“Casey’s simply obtained so many talents,” Stanford coach David Shaw mentioned. “He’s obtained the power to be quick, fast, and explosive. He’s obtained imaginative and prescient, he’s obtained steadiness to alter route and make folks miss. You already know for a man who’s not the most important man he will get yards after contact – he’s actually good slithering between folks and taking glancing blows and getting constructive yards after contact. He catches the ball effectively out of the backfield, can line up outdoors as a receiver as effectively and make performs.”
The 5-11, 198-pound Filkins can be the workforce’s punt returner.
He was the consensus No. 1 recruit out of Oregon within the Class of 2020, and he left Lake Oswego Excessive because the state document holder for profession touchdowns (100), complete yards (6,786) and dashing yards (4,596). However whether or not drawn by lecturers or distance from house, Filkins was at all times headed to the Bay Space for school: He first dedicated to Cal as a junior, after which switched to Stanford within the fall of his senior yr.
Filkins was fourth on the depth chart at operating again after the 2021 season, however Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat transferred in January, after which Smith suffered his undisclosed harm.
Smith was really in Filkins’ room after they heard that the harm could be season-ending.
“I’m simply tremendous disillusioned for E.J., truthfully,” Filkins mentioned. “It breaks my coronary heart as a result of clearly he’s my operating again mate, however he’s my finest good friend too. In that second, you don’t actually know what to say. He’s put in a lot work this offseason. On the finish of the day, it’s God’s plan and God’s timing.”
Filkins mentioned that Smith is now his largest supporter. Filkins additionally has added confidence from his efficiency in opposition to Washington, although it additionally confirmed how a lot room for enchancment there was. Shaw mentioned Filkins can nonetheless be extra affected person, whereas Filkins mentioned he wanted to work on his move safety. Filkins additionally stumbled popping out of a break and bobbled a move that became a purple zone interception for Washington.
That was considered one of Stanford’s 11 turnovers by way of three video games, the worst turnover price within the FBS and one thing that must be mounted if the Cardinal has any likelihood on Saturday.
“It actually comes all the way down to errors that we’ve made, that we’ve harm ourselves, and we haven’t executed to the very best of our capability,” Filkins mentioned. “I really imagine and have faith in our workforce, and particularly on offense, I feel we’re proper there, you already know. I feel we’re able to have a big-time sport and type of propel us for the remainder of the season.”
The Cardinal hasn’t overwhelmed an FBS workforce since Oct. 2, 2021, when it knocked off then-No. 3 Oregon in extra time.
Stanford is a 17-point underdog in opposition to the Geese (3-1, 1-0) Saturday, however Filkins mentioned the workforce can draw confidence from final yr’s sport.
“You ask anyone final yr outdoors of our program, they wouldn’t have given us a shot to beat these dudes at house, after which that ended up being an superior victory for us,” Filkins mentioned. “So we imagine in ourselves and it’s actually nearly executing to what we all know our full potential is.”