"He has the ability, the physical tools and the toughness," Shaw said. "We don't feel the need to rush his development. We believe the end result is he's going to be phenomenal. He has all the tools."

Shaw expects Chryst to take over the starting job at some point in his Cardinal football career.

"There are things you can't coach," Cardinal coach David Shaw said of Chryst on Wednesday. "Six-four, 235 pounds, athletic, can throw the ball 70 yards. You can't teach those."

Palo Alto senior quarterback Keller Chryst officially signed his letter of intent with Stanford University on national football signing day, joining what one recruiting service ranked as the second-best class in the Pac-12.

Christian McCaffrey (6-0, 200), the son of former Stanford great and NFL player Ed McCaffrey, is one of those running backs.

Chryst is joined by two running backs, a wide receiver and a tight end on offense. The defense also added two defensive ends.

Chryst finished his Paly career with 7,326 passing yards and 85 touchdowns and numerous school records. He shares the Paly record for most wins (23) as a quarterback with current Stanford assistant Peter Hansen.

Chryst is the son of San Francisco 49ers quarterback coach George Chryst and the nephew of Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst. His grandfather, George Chryst, played football at Wisconsin.

Not only does McCaffrey have a Stanford pedigree (his mother, Lisa Sime, played soccer at Stanford), he has a brother playing football at Duke and his maternal grandfather, David Sime, was the 1956 world recordholder in the 100-yard dash and was a silver medalist in the event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

McCaffrey is a two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year following his record-breaking career at Valor Christian High in Castle Rock in football and track and field.

"We're excited about what he can bring here," Shaw said.

NOTES: Shaw said he'll likely name his running backs coach within a week and still has people to interview for the secondary coach position . . . Shaw indicated that the Cardinal will most likely not have a full complement of 85 scholarships this year . . . Shaw said the walk-on part of recruiting has not yet ended. "We're always on the lookout for kicking talent," he said . . . Seven of the recruits had fathers who played NCAA Division I football: Alfieri, Burkett, Chryst, Hall, McCaffrey, Simmons, Veach . . . Okereke is a San Mateo native . . . The 20 newest Cardinal hail from 12 states: Arizona (3), California (5), Colorado, Florida (2), Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas (2), Utah and Washington.

"Just like everybody else we're excited about the young men joining the football and university," Shaw said.

Nine of the incoming freshmen were named PrepStar All-Americans and four were consensus picks.

"He's mature and a leader," Shaw said. "He is focused on what is important."

"We had a lot of redshirts because we had so many fourth- and fifth-year seniors," Shaw said. "It is competition-based here. If you can help win a game, you're going to play."

"That's the most guys in one class we've signed in the secondary in I don't know how many years," said Shaw.

"That's a diverse group of linebackers," Shaw said. "That's the heartbeat of the team."

"We are going to agree and sometimes we are not," Bloomgren said. "In Dalton's case, we absolutely did."

Dalton was considered by many publications as the top tight end in the country.

"McCaffrey and Brandt-Sims both have unbelievable versatility," Shaw said. "I think we signed the top tight end in the country."

Wide receiver Isaiah Brandt-Sims (5-11, 180), fullback Daniel Marx (6-2, 240) and tight end Dalton Schultz (6-6, 240) are also on the offensive side of the ball.

"It was a long recruiting process," Shaw said. "It came down to the best education he could find with the best football he could find. What he did today was fun. It was awesome."

Two future Cardinal players announced their official decision on ESPNU: Defensive end Solomon Thomas (6-3, 255) and cornerback Terrence Alexander (5-10, 180). Thomas made his decision late in the process, with Shaw saying he knew two days ago.

Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly , Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

Paly's Chryst joins another top Stanford recruiting class