2024 Football Season in Review – Stanford Cardinal

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER BREAKOUT

The victory over Louisville would not have been possible had it not been for the breakout game by true freshman wide receiver Emmett Mosley V. He caught 13 passes for 168 yards with three touchdowns in the victory, setting Stanford freshman receiving records for receptions and touchdowns in a game. The 168 receiving yards trail on Mark Harris (189 in 1993) and Richard Sherman (177 in 2006) for the most receiving yards in a single game by a true freshman at Stanford.

From start to finish, it was all about @EmmettMosley6.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/jRuMlZVWCZ

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 17, 2024

Much like Ayomanor’s record-setting performance against Colorado in 2023, Mosley V’s game against the Cardinals followed a similar script, with two of his three touchdowns coming in the fourth quarter. It was the first three-touchdown game by a Stanford wide receiver since Ayomanor did so in the aforementioned game against the Buffaloes.

Mosley V finished the season tied with Ayomanor for the team lead in touchdowns with six and ended his first collegiate season with 525 receiving yards. No true freshman wide receiver had recorded at least 500 receiving yards in his first season on The Farm since Richard Sherman recorded 581 in 2006. 

MILESTONES

Stanford had a number of offensive milestones over the course of the season, highlighted by the efforts of its quarterbacks in the running game:

• Ashton Daniels set the Stanford single-season rushing record by a quarterback with 669 rushing yards…ran for 129 yards at NC State on Nov. 2, tying the Stanford single-game rushing record by a quarterback set by Don Bunce in 1969.
  

  Our guy @ashton_d12 knows one speed: FAST 💨

  His 129 rushing yards last week tied the single-game rushing record by a Stanford QB!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/vo6a45OhQW

  — Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 6, 2024

• Justin Lamson set the Stanford single-season rushing touchdown record by a quarterback with eight rushing touchdowns.
• Micah Ford ran for 122 yards at Clemson on Sept. 28, the first Stanford freshman running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game since Kenneth Tolon in 2001.
• Elic Ayomanor and Emmett Mosley V both finished with six receiving touchdowns, becoming the first wide receiver duo at Stanford with at least six scores since Teyo Johnson and Luke Powell in 2001. 

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS

The Cardinal was much improved on the defensive side of the ball in 2024,…