Receivers top Stanford's 2015 recruiting class (w/video)

STANFORD - Stanford coach David Shaw, a wide receiver in his playing days with the Cardinal, was effusive in his praise of the three receivers who signed with the Cardinal on Wednesday.

Parade’s first team All-Americans JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Trenton Irwin topped the 22-player recruiting class for Stanford. Jay Tyler, who scored 127 touchdowns during his high school career in Louisiana, also signed.

“He has ridiculous catch range,” Shaw said of Arcega-Whiteside. “Guys can be pushing him or bumping him and anything close to him, he’ll get.”

Shaw called Irwin “a special route runner. I told him he was the best route runner in the nation in high school. He’s a guy you can’t cover.”

The Cardinal also picked up safety Justin Reid, whose older brother, Eric, plays for the San Francisco 49ers. Former 49ers and Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, now at Michigan, unsuccessfully recruited Eric to Stanford, who chose to remain in state and attended LSU.

“I’m not surprised,” Shaw said. “We knew we had a good chance. But he and his brother are great students. He came on a visit and had a blast.”

Shaw called Justin underrated as a safety. Ben Edwards, one of the top-rated safeties in the nation out of Florida, also chose Stanford.

Two players - fullback Houston Heimuli and linebacker Gabe Reid - signed but will go on Mormon missions before enrolling in 2017. Linebacker Sean Barton will enroll with this class after originally signing in 2013 and going on his mission.

Defensive tackle Wesley Annan and defensive end Dylan Jackson may be on the field as freshmen. Shaw said Stanford is “not deep there” and recruited the position out of need.

“I’m impressed with how mature this class is,” Shaw said. “There are guys who are physically ready for college football. There’s a chance for these guys to play.”

Brian Chaffin, a center out of North Carolina, was the first to send in his signed letter, which arrived in the Stanford football offices shortly after 5 a.m.

“He’s a ringleader,” Shaw said of Chaffin. “He’s vocal, he’s outgoing and talks to everybody. He was in the middle of everything with the other recruits.”

Overall, the Cardinal signed 11 offensive players - four of them linemen - 10 defensive players and a punter.