Shaw: Stanford QBs ‘going to get a lot of reps’

Less than two months since its victorious Rose Bowl, Stanford started spring practice Tuesday, and head coach David Shaw said quarterbacks Keller Chryst and Ryan Burns are going to be busy boys.

Shaw mentioned inexperience on the defensive line and at three spots on the offensive line.

What I’m excited about is we’ve got athleticism, enough older guys who have played a lot of football and a bunch of sophomores who played a bunch of football last year as freshmen.’’

Nose tackle Harrison Phillips (knee), fullback Daniel Marx and outside linebacker Joey Alfieri (undisclosed) are not yet ready for action.

Luke Kaumatule and Eric Cotton, both former tight ends now listed as defensive linemen, aren’t the only players switching sides of the ball.

Redshirt junior Taijuan Thomas is shifting from cornerback to wide receiver.

Zach Hoffpauir, a starter at safety in 2014, will return for the second spring session after a minor-league baseball stint in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization in 2015.

Center Graham Schuler announced after the season he was quitting football, and running back Barry J. Sanders will play as a graduate transfer for Oklahoma State, his famous dad’s alma mater.

Three other players who had eligibility remaining have left the program to pursue career opportunities: offensive tackle Nick Davidson, backup receiver Conner Crane and backup defensive lineman Nate Lohn.

Davidson was considered a candidate for a starting job, but Shaw said he received a phenomenal job offer that he decided to take.

First session, Tuesday through March 7; second session, March 29-April 9