Stanford's Kevin Hogan a 'stabilizing agent' at QB

Published Aug. 27, 2014 5:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) David Shaw remembers Stanford's first few games without Andrew Luck two years ago as a stressful time for his coaching staff and his players.

Uncertainty at quarterback lingered. Doubt about the direction of the program persisted. And how Shaw would solve the problem remained a constant question.

Kevin Hogan replaced struggling starter Josh Nunes late that season, and the rest is history: two consecutive Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl berths. Stanford has not worried about its quarterback since.

With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Hogan already has carved out his place in school history. The redshirt junior has been the program's ''stabilizing agent,'' and he's provided hope that the No. 11 Cardinal could remain an unlikely powerhouse entering Saturday's season opener against UC Davis.