2025 Fall Camp Week 2 - Inside Linebackers

STANFORD, Calif. — Week two of Stanford football fall camp takes us to the inside linebackers, a group that brings back many of its players, but just one start as a member of the Cardinal.

Part of the change at the position comes from Andy Thompson, who takes over in 2025 as the inside linebackers coach. Thompson has years of success as a defensive coach and knows he is joining a defensive staff on the rise. 

As one of two new defensive position coaches in 2025, Thompson and the rest of the defense have been preaching one simple word throughout camp: consistency.

“Consistency with your techniques, consistency in what you’re asked to do, play in and play out,” he explained. “I know the effort is going to be there. They’ve worked extremely hard, but we must be consistent.”

Most positions on Stanford’s defense return their starters from 2024, continuing to build on an improving defense over the last few seasons. That’s not the case with the inside linebackers, who lost veteran players in Tristan Sinclair and Gaethan Bernadel. The two started 23 of 24 games together over the last two years since Bernadel transferred from Florida International, ranking first and second on the team in tackles since 2023.

Not only were they the two biggest leaders of the defense, but they were the defensive signal callers with the advent of coach-to-player communication in college football. Losing two individuals who effectively serve as “quarterbacks” of a defense can be a big blow to a unit’s success.

Stanford feels it is in a great place for the transition, thanks to Matt Rose and Jahsiah Galvan. Rose has been on The Farm for four years, rotating in with guys like Sinclair and Bernadel, and making his first start against a ranked Louisville team last year. Galvan made his Stanford debut in 2024 after transferring from Northern Iowa, where he made 11 starts as a redshirt freshman. 

Rose feels ready to assume a lot of that leadership that has since been transferred over to him. He credited Sinclair and Bernadel with their ability to lead not just the position group but the team as a whole, and said he’s gleaned a lot from them.

“I took some notes over the years, and it was something that was new to me at first, but I feel like as I’ve gone on, I’ve been getting more comfortable as a leader,” Rose explained.

2025 represents a big season for Galvan. He spent his first season on The Farm primarily as a third-down linebacker, rotating in for Bernadel situationally. Big things are expected in his second season at Stanford, and he’s putting in the work to make sure he’s ready for the increase in reps.

“I’m trying to get more consistent coming off blocks, being more physical, knowing where I’m at, and then using that to help talk to everyone else,” Galvan said. “Hopefully, that makes everyone else’s job a little easier.”

That increase in communication is one way the defense feels even freer. Stanford fans heard a lot in 2024 that the defense had more freedom to make plays. Galvan confirmed that it’s been cranked up a notch in 2025.

“Guys are leaning into their instincts and letting that take over. That is going to lead to more plays on the ball.

So much of what Stanford did on the defensive side of the ball in 2024 was based on playing aggressively and fast to the ball in an effort to create more turnovers. Mission accomplished, as the Cardinal defense forced 17 turnovers, an increase of six from the season prior. Stanford ranked 38^th in fumble recoveries and scored three defensive touchdowns for the first time since 2016. 

There was also a significant improvement in Stanford’s ability to stop the run. The Cardinal limited opponents to just 133.5 rushing yards per game, the program’s best mark since 2014. Add it all up, and it was a decisive improvement from 2023, and many of those players are still on the roster in 2025.

Improvements are still needed, however, and Rose knows that. “You can always take a step forward. From communication to effort, there’s always room for improvement, and we’re going to do it this year."

Early on, Rose likes what he has seen from the defense. He feels the defense continues to make strides in creating game-changing plays and praised the way “everyone is running their tail off getting to the ball.”

How else can Stanford’s defense continue to take a step forward? It’s all about the basics, Coach Thompson explains. If Stanford does the little things, the big things become possible.

“It’s the fundamentals. Can you cover? Can you rush the passer? Can you tackle? Can you get off blocks? Those are always going to be the key when you’re playing during the year,” said Coach Thompson. “You can have the greatest scheme, but if you’re not doing those fundamental things, it doesn’t matter. We’re really emphasizing our fundamental growth in each position.”

One thing remains clear to Coach Thompson as he prepares for his first season on The Farm: this group of young men is special. 

“These players have been unbelievable to coach,” he beamed. “The dedication these guys have to school and football is second to none. They are genuinely some of the hardest-working players I’ve ever coached.” 

Led by a pair of veterans ready to make a jump, the inside linebackers will continue to ensure this year’s Cardinal defense remains one of the hardest working in the country.