The Michigan transfer boasts an elite completion percentage, but his 5.7 yards per attempt ranked 120th nationally last season. Whether Stanford's offensive line and run game can compensate will determine the 2026 season.
After years of struggles and underperformance on The Farm, the feeling now is that the tide is turning. Former Stanford Cardinal Tavita Pritchard is the long-term answer at head coach after an interim year from Frank Reich, while beloved former QB Andrew Luck is in his second full season of running the show as the program's GM.
The most notable difference on the field for the Cardinal this coming season will be transfer QB Davis Warren under center. Warren comes to Stanford by way of Michigan via the transfer portal, after establishing himself in 2024 and then missing the 2025 season due to injury. A lot of the team's success or failure this year will rest upon his right arm.
The expectations are high, but how does he compare to Stanford's recent run of quarterbacks? Over the past two seasons, the main guys under center have been Ashton Daniels, Justin Lamson, Ben Gulbranson, and Elijah Brown. Each offered something a little different, and now all four are gone.
Daniels was the best combination of being able to sling it or run with it, while Lamson was used primarily for his rushing ability in goal-line situations. Gulbranson was more of a passing QB, while Brown didn't air it out terribly often, averaging 6.5 yards per passing attempt.
Their recent production tells the story:
| QB | Comp % | TD | INT | OFF | PASS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Warren (2024) | 64.1% | 7 | 9 | 70.5 | 69.4 |
| Ashton Daniels (2024) | 62.7% | 10 | 12 | 71.6 | 65.3 |
| Ben Gulbranson (2025) | 56.9% | 9 | 10 | 49.4 | 48.6 |
| Justin Lamson (2024) | 51.1% | 4 | 2 | 65.1 | 58.2 |
| Elijah Brown (2025) | 58.3% | 4 | 2 | 56.7 | 55.7 |
Context matters—here's how frequently each was asked to throw:
Warren: 134-of-209 for 1,199 yards for 5.7 YPA
Daniels: 170-of-271 for 1,700 yards, 6.3 YPA
Gulbranson: 148-of-260 for 1,813 yards, 7.0 YPA
Lamson: 24-of-47 for 300 yards, 6.4 YPA
Brown: 74-of-127 for 829 yards, 6.5 YPA
One big question heading into training camp is how close Warren will be to his 2024 form.
The efficiency question looms larger: Warren's 5.7 yards per attempt ranked lowest in this sample. The top quarterbacks in the country hover closer to nine yards per attempt. Had he played, that 5.7 would have ranked 120th out of 123 QBs last season, against a league average of 7.4 YPA.
Warren has the highest completion percentage, which bodes well, but that Wolverine offense also averaged 157.2 yards on the ground per game that season.
Running back Micah Ford certainly has the potential to be a 1,000-yard rusher for the Cardinal this season, but the key for him being able to reach that milestone for Stanford, and for Warren to be a steady force at quarterback, will be the performance of the offensive line.
Warren is going to need protection, and Ford is going to need some blocks to create space. Stanford's offensive line has been a recurring problem for all these QBs. Lamson transferred after the 2024 campaign and went on to have a terrific season with Montana State, racking up 3,172 yards and 26 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
With new head coach Tavita Pritchard leading the way and plenty of new faces on The Farm, the goal for this program will be to find a groove early on. For Warren, it will be to build up his rapport with his receiving corps, so they can unleash Pritchard's vision on the ACC.
Will Warren be the answer at QB for Stanford this season? Join the discussion here at Stanford Roundtable!
