Christian McCaffrey, the star all-purpose running back from Valor Christian, committed to Stanford on Thursday morning.
“Just committed to play football at Stanford University!” McCaffrey wrote on Twitter.
He’ll play his college football at the same school of his father, former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, who starred at Stanford from 1986-90. His mother, Lisa, also played soccer there.
“My heart just really led me there,” McCaffrey said Thursday morning during an interview on 9News. “I felt like it was the best opportunity for me to get the (most) out of football and my position, and also to get the (most) out of academics. When I visited there, it felt like home. I felt like it could call it home for four-to-five years.
“I’m extremely blessed and extremely excited to get out there and be a Cardinal.”
On Twitter, Ed McCaffrey wrote, “Lisa and I are very proud!”
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound McCaffrey will be a senior this fall. He had at least 22 total offers, including scholarships from power programs like Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and Wisconsin. Colorado and Colorado State also offered.
He is seen by many as the top recruit in Colorado from the class of 2014. Last season, McCaffrey was named the All-Colorado offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,390 yards and 23 touchdowns and also catching 55 passes for 675 yards and 14 scores.
McCaffrey has had a big hand in three of Valor Christian’s four-consecutive championships, including the most recent title against Cherokee Trail for the Class 5A crown in December, a game in which he scored the lone touchdown.
He’s also a standout basketball player, and has helped Valor’s boys team reach the state semifinals each of the past two seasons.
Christian’s older brother, Max, was a freshman wide receiver at Duke last season. He caught two passes for 31 yards.
Ryan Casey: 303-954-1983, rcasey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jryancasey
