The wideout from Mater Dei High School in Anaheim is the No. 16 recruit from California, the No. 20 prospect at his position in the country and the No. 147 recruit overall, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
His older brother, Equanimeous St. Brown, plays for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, while his younger brother, Amon-Ra St. Brown, is already attracting attention from colleges. And yes, those names were chosen for specific reasons, as St. Brown told Damon Sayles of Bleacher Report in October.
"Osiris Adrian Amon-Ra J. St. Brown," he pronounced his full name, per Sayles. "Osiris is the [Egyptian] god of the underworld, and my dad believes in power in names and numbers. He named all of us with a meaning."
St. Brown comes from an athletic background. Along with his talented brothers, his father, John Brown, was a two-time Mr. Universe and three-time Mr. World champion in bodybuilding, per Sayles.
He comes from a cultured background, too, speaking three languages (English, German and French), appreciating fine cars and making art. Sayles described him as "a Renaissance man."
On the field, the 6'1", 178-pound wideout is just as impressive. Scout.com's Greg Biggins offered the following scouting report:
St. Brown is a smooth receiver with great hands and very good body control. He runs very good routes, catches everything away from his body and shows the ability to run after the catch. He's a smart football player who knows how to get open, when to break off a route and when to settle in to a zone. He does a nice job catching the ball at it's highest point and is very good in jump ball situations. He needs to continue to get stronger and work on his top end speed but he has all the tools to be an impact college receiver.
Stanford has brought aboard a polished, dedicated wideout who has room to grow into a special player. Osiris may reference the Egyptian god of the underworld, but the Cardinal would settle for St. Brown being the king of campus in his time with the school.
Stanford Cardinal 2016 College Football Betting Preview, Championship Odds
Jul 28, 2016
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey plays against Iowa during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Stanford continues to win Pac-12 championships and cover spreads. Since Jim Harbaugh rejuvenated this program almost a decade ago, the Cardinal have been one of the best teams to wager on in college football. They did it again last year, going 10-4 against the spread at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark on their way to another Rose Bowl victory. Can they stay profitable again this year?
Stanford began last season ranked No. 21 but lost its opener at Northwestern to fall out of the Top 25. But the Cardinal woke up and won their next eight games in a row, knocking off ranked USC and UCLA teams along the way.
They suffered an upset loss at home to Oregon, but they beat Cal to clinch the North Division title. Stanford then broke Notre Dame's heart, beating the Irish on a long field goal on the last play of the game, before disposing of the Trojans in a rematch in the Pac-12 title game. Finally, the Cardinal exposed Iowa, flying out to a 35-0 halftime lead in what became a 45-16 Rose Bowl romp.
In four seasons under Harbaugh, Stanford went 28-22 ATS; in five seasons under David Shaw, the Cardinal are 41-25 ATS.
This Year in Preview
Stanford only returns 11 starters this season, although it only had 12 last year. Five starters are back on offense, which is led by the dangerous Christian McCaffrey (2,019 rushing yards last year, 645 receiving yards and 1,200 return yards). But the Cardinal have to replace four-year starter Kevin Hogan at quarterback and three cogs along the offensive line. Meanwhile, six starters return on defense.
The Cardinal averaged 37.8 points per game last year while allowing 22.6. Even with McCaffrey, they'll have trouble matching that first figure this year, but they could improve upon the second.
Stanford 2016 Schedule
Stanford better be ready quickly this season because, after opening with a home date against Kansas State, the Cardinal host USC and then visit UCLA and Washington back-to-back. A couple of weeks later, they step out of conference for a trip to Notre Dame and later play at Oregon and at Cal. That's six true road games against some of the top teams in the Pac-12 and the Fighting Irish.
Betting on the Cardinal
Stanford is the favorite to win the Pac-12, yet it has an over/under of just eight wins. There's little value in those conference odds, and with some questions on offense but an improved defense, the under wager may be the play on the Cardinal this season.
Stanford Commit Davis Mills Is the 'Best QB in the 2017 Class'
Jun 23, 2016
Four-star quarterback Davis Mills is a Stanford commit with a tremendous amount of upside. Cardinal head coach David Shaw and Co. will have an absolute playmaker in the Pac-12 for years to come.
Watch as College Football Analyst Michael Felder gives reasons why he thinks Mills is the best quarterback in the 2017 class.
Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey Masters the Harmonica in 'Piano Man' Cover
Jun 19, 2016
As the runner-up for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, the Stanford Cardinal's Christian McCaffrey has already proved he's a star on the gridiron.
The junior running back is more than just a great football player, however. He's also a musician.
Last year, we found out in a College GameDay feature that McCaffrey can play the piano. That apparently just set the stage for his latest (musical) highlight video.
On Thursday, Stanford Athletics posted footage of McCaffrey covering Billy Joel's "Piano Man." No, not on the piano—on the harmonica. While he has a bright future in football, the 20-year-old Cardinal star also has what it takes to be a successful musician.
2017 Stanford QB Commit Is Ready to Carve Up College Defenses Right Now
Apr 29, 2016
Stanford landed 4-star quarterback Davis Mills, per 247Sports, back in March, and the Norcross, Georgia, native has been shooting up recruiting rankings since that point.
According to Bleacher Report's Michael Felder, Mills has the talent to dominate college defenses right now.
Breaking Down the 2017 QB Class After 4-Star Davis Mills Commits to Stanford
Mar 15, 2016
Prized Georgia passer Davis Mill announced plans to play at Stanford .
The Stanford Cardinal football team reached across the country Tuesday to claim a verbal pledge from coveted Georgia quarterback Davis Mills.
The 4-star recruit, rated No. 4 nationally among pro-style passers in 2017 composite rankings, added to a growing collection of committed prospects at the position when he announced collegiate intentions Tuesday morning:
The Cardinal land a 6'3", 192-pound passer who also warranted scholarship offers from Michigan State, Ole Miss, UCLA, Georgia and Louisville. Mills, a junior at the Greater Atlanta Christian School, spent an unofficial visit in Palo Alto last month.
Stanford head coach David Shaw adds another impressive young passer to a future arsenal that welcomes 2016 signee KJ Costello later this year. Costello was considered the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in his recruiting cycle, so expect these young talents to push each other for reps in training camps to come.
Mills, who threw for 5,088 yards and 51 touchdowns during the past two seasons, is the latest in a long line of pivotal 2017 pledges at the position. His commitment to Stanford means 15 of the class' top 25 passers have now publicly declared college plans.
As usual, it's getting late early on the recruiting trail when it comes to quarterbacks.
Ranking
Name
High School
Recruitment Status
1
Dylan McCaffrey
Valor Christian (Littleton, Colorado)
Committed to Michigan
2
Hunter Johnson
Brownsburg (Brownsburg, Indiana)
Committed to Clemson
3
Tate Martell
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Committed to Texas A&M
4
Jake Fromm
Houston County (Warner Robins, Georgia)
Committed to Georgia
5
Tua Tagovailoa
St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Uncommitted
6
Shawn Robinson
Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Committed to TCU
7
Davis Mills
Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, Georgia)
Committed to Stanford
8
Sam Ehlinger
Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Committed to Texas
9
Ryan Kelley
Basha (Chandler, Arizona)
Committed to Oregon
10
Jake Bentley
Opelika (Opelika, Alabama)
Uncommitted
The table above provides further indication of how far things have already progressed in the 2017 quarterback market, with eight of America's top 10 recruits verbally committed to a university well in advance of their senior season.
However, it's important to anticipate the dramatic ebbs and flows each cycle provides at this position. All pledges are merely verbal at this stage, and those outlooks could ultimately change as the 2016 season unfolds. Another chaotic coaching carousel will inevitably follow.
Among marquee quarterbacks in this class, several altered college plans earlier in the process.
Clemson commit Hunter Johnson previously pledged to Tennessee. Tate Martell, the centerpiece of Texas A&M's latest haul, made headlines with a middle school commitment to Washington. Peach State standout Jake Fromm recently flipped his pledge from Alabama to Georgia.
Expect this multicommitment list to expand considerably en route to national signing day. Last cycle, we witnessed late collegiate audibles from Elite 11 finalists such as Dwayne Haskins (Maryland to Ohio State), Feleipe Franks (LSU to Florida), Anthony Russo (Rutgers to Temple) and Nick Starkel (Oklahoma State to Texas A&M).
While plenty of programs will continue to pursue passers presently considered members of other recruiting classes, a collection of promising prospects approaches their final high school summer break undecided about college. Alabama playmaker Jake Bentley and Hawaii product Tua Tagovailoa, who attends the same high school (St. Louis; Honolulu) as Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota headline this group.
Jake Bentley also considered Stanford and is likely to land somewhere in the southeast.
Bentley, rated No. 6 among pro-style quarterbacks in the class, was also weighing an opportunity at Stanford. Cardinal coaches now have their guy at the position, which could prove positive for other suitors.
Miami is a contender, as head coach Mark Richt previously recruited him at Georgia. Alabama extended an offer last week following the loss of Fromm, while South Carolina's coaching staff includes Bentley's father.
Tagovailoa, a longtime target of Pac-12 programs, including UCLA and USC, added SEC offers from Alabama and Texas A&M this winter. Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is ardently exploring alternatives at quarterback, so Tagovailoa and Bentley should both be counted among prospects to watch in Tuscaloosa.
Clemson, beaten by Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship Game, also enters spring with an interesting situation at the position. Along with Johnson, a 5-star recruit, the Tigers also claim a commitment from 4-star Georgia native Chase Brice, rated No. 11 nationally among pro-style passers.
You have to wonder whether other staffs will be successful in deterring either Johnson or Brice from signing with the same team next February. Uncommitted quarterbacks such as Avery Davis, LowellNarcisse (Louisiana) and Tristian Gebbia (California) are among other 4-star talents who will continue to command increased attention from college recruiting departments as options become increasingly limited.
Mills is the latest passer to plunge into a recruiting class, and others are sure to follow before long. By the time summer training gets underway for these rising seniors, coaches can expect slim pickings while searching for uncommitted top-tier quarterbacks.
Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.
Stanford Cardinal Recruiting 2016: National Signing Day Grades and Analysis
Feb 3, 2016
The Stanford Cardinal rounded out 2016 national signing day with a strong class, landing Kaden Smith and KJ Costello, according to 247Sports. These commits will have a big impact on the future of the Cardinal.
Bleacher Report College Football Analysts Michael Felder and Adam Kramer break down the class and dish out its grades.
What do you think of Stanford's class? Check out the video, and let us know what you think.
All recruit info from 247Sports and rankings accurate as of Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Barry J. Sanders to Transfer from Stanford: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
Jan 5, 2016
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 7: Running back Barry Sanders #26 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes against the Colorado Buffaloes during a game at Folsom Field on November 7, 2015 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Former Stanford running back Barry J. Sanders will reportedly transfer this offseason.
Jacob Unruh of the Oklahoman reported on Tuesday that Sanders “has received his release to pursue transfer opportunities, and Oklahoma State is a school he is seriously considering.”
Sanders’ father, Barry Sanders, played at Oklahoma State before becoming one of the best running backs in NFL history.
Heisman Trophy finalist Christian McCaffrey broke the elder Sanders’ record for all-purpose yardage last season with 3,864 and could very well be the primary reason the younger Sanders is transferring. McCaffrey will once again be at Stanford in 2016, and he figures to be the Heisman favorite as well as dominate the touches in the backfield.
With McCaffrey as the primary focus for the Cardinal offense, Sanders finished 2015 with 315 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Rose Bowl champions.
According to Unruh, “He was granted a release to any school outside of the Pac-12.” The running back didn’t seem too upset about the limitation, though: “Stanford is the best team in the conference. It wouldn’t make sense to go within the conference. I’m really unsure at this point, so we’ll just take it day by day.”
Sanders will graduate in June and did address the possibility of playing at Oklahoma State: “That's definitely an option. I have not been in contact with those guys yet, but I would like to see what they have to offer. Hopefully we can find some common ground.”
The Cowboys were seventh in the nation in passing yards per game this season but a dismal 114th in rushing yards per game. They still managed to finish as the country’s 14th-best scoring offense on the way to a Sugar Bowl appearance, but they could be much more potent with a consistent rushing threat.
Sanders could provide just that if he elects to transfer to his father’s old school.
Stanford Players Chant 'We Want Bama,' One Proposes After Rose Bowl Win
Jan 1, 2016
There was plenty of joy to go around after the Stanford Cardinal's 45-16 Rose Bowl win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday.
For some players, it took life in the form of "We Want Bama!" chants led by guard Josh Garnett as they headed into the tunnel.
For fellow guard Brendon Austin, who opted for a different chant, it took shape in the form of a proposal to his girlfriend:
