QB Davis Warren already bringing stability to Stanford

One of the biggest takeaways from this past week’s ACC Kickoff is that Stanford quarterback Davis Warren is already bringing stability to the Cardinal program. Not since Tanner McKee’s junior season has Stanford gone into a fall camp knowing who their starting quarterback will be. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, there was some debate going into camp regarding who would start. This year, there is no such debate as Warren is clearly quarterback number one on the roster. He wouldn’t have made the trip to Charlotte if he wasn’t. The big benefit of having it established that Warren is the number one quarterback is that means he’ll be getting the lion’s share of reps with the first team and really be able to develop a good rapport with his receivers, tight ends, and offensive line. The running game will benefit from it as well. Across the board, fall camp should go much smoother for the Cardinal knowing who their guy is under center. What drew Warren to Stanford after graduating from Michigan is the chance to be developed by guys who know the quarterback position well. Warren has high praise of head coach Tavita Pritchard, general manager Andrew Luck, and quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren. He loves the experience all three of them have and the collective knowledge on the position that they can share with him. “Yeah, I think going into the portal, you never really know what to expect. But I think it’s been everything I could ask for and then some,” Warren said of why he chose to come to Stanford. “I think the first conversation we had, me and Coach Pritchard and Coach Luck, I could just — I could see myself in this situation, being a part of a group that loves football, that wants to push me to be good at football, push the guys to be the best team that we can be, then just develop me as a quarterback. “I think that’s something that I was looking for. Between Coach Luck, Coach Pritchard and Coach Lindgren we have an incredible group. I don’t think there’s any better group in the country to develop as a quarterback than right here at Stanford. It’s been everything I could hope for. Just excited to let it go on Saturdays.” Not only does Warren believe Stanford will help improve his game. He also believes Stanford is a place where he can win. Not all quarterbacks would have that belief in a team that is coming off a 4-8 season, but Warren really does believe that this Stanford program has the ingredients to be competitive this season. “I want to win. There’s no one who wants Stanford more to win than Coach Pritchard and this group. That was really important to me,” Warren emphasized. “Yeah, obviously seeing what he did with Jayden Daniels, I was with Jayden a couple months ago. He FaceTimed Coach Pritchard immediately. They were talking like they were old friends. So seeing how much he meant to him was super cool to see. “I know that I’m in good hands and can play the game with conviction, conviction that he understands what I’m going through in the pocket on a play-to-play basis, and also he will stand behind me with whatever happens. I think if you can play the game as quarterback with conviction, then you can be the best version of yourself. I’m excited to do that for the guys.” Something that helps give Warren confidence is he’s been a part of championship success. He was a member of the 2023-24 Michigan team that won a national championship, appearing in three games. Playing in a championship culture under former Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh really helped Warren discover what it takes to win a championship and compete at the highest level of college football. “Yeah, I think I wouldn’t say, like, everything didn’t go exactly how I wanted it to go,” Warren said reflecting on his time at Michigan. “Like it was a great place and I’m very grateful for my time there and it being a part of my journey. “I think the biggest thing I learned is just learned what a championship culture looks like firsthand, and learned like what a championship coach looks like firsthand, what it takes out of a starting quarterback, what it takes in player-run practices, what it takes in the weight room in the off-season, what it takes in the winter, in spring ball, in fall camp, what does it take to go win a championship. “I know we have the horses to do that here. It’s going to take all of us just believing every single snap that we have what it takes to win a championship. That’s what I felt there. I’m feeling that here. I believe wholeheartedly in our ability to do that.” Looking ahead to the 2026 season, it’s clear that having Davis Warren as the starting quarterback gives Stanford something they’ve been lacking: A confident quarterback. He’s been a starter before and knows what it’s like to lead a team. It’s not at all an exaggeration to say that quarterback is the most important position in sports. If you have a quarterback that you can trust, good things tend to flow from that. If not, you’re bound to struggle. It’ll be fun to see how Warren performs in 2026 and what kind of chemistry he develops with his teammates over the course of fall camp. Note: Cardinal Sports Report has you covered for all the latest news on Stanford as they begin the Tavita Pritchard era. Try Cardinal Sports Report out for $1 and get your first year for 50% off! 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