Stanford QB Tanner McKee brings his own experience against UCLA

LOS ANGELES — Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee’s reemergence may have proven to be worth the wait for the Cardinal after some early success.

McKee was a four-star prospect in the class of 2018 and held offers from Florida, USC, UCLA and Alabama among others.

The former Corona Centennial High standout signed his national letter of intent with Stanford in 2018 before he embarked on a two-year Latter-day Saint mission in Brazil.

“I think it’s helped a lot overcoming adversity,” McKee said about his experience. “It’s obviously not easy going to a foreign country and not really knowing the language or any of the people. I feel like it just helped me mature as a person and as a leader.”

Stanford coach David Shaw has successfully recruited other players who have gone on missions before officially joining the Cardinal program. When they return, Shaw asks those players, such as McKee, to use those experiences not only as an advantage for themselves but their teammates.

“You went on a mission for a reason: spiritual, intellectual and just natural growth,” Shaw said. “I said ‘Let the guys in the locker room feel that. … You’ve been in the world and now you are in a locker room with a bunch of college kids that haven’t been in the world, they went straight from their parents’ house to college.’

“I think that’s what you get from Tanner, a gleaning of being out there in life, getting real life experience and having some gravity to when he talks about. And I’m excited for where he is and for what he can be both in and outside of football.”

Some of McKee’s experiences included learning how to speak and read Portuguese, something he has continued to improve upon by taking advanced level classes at Stanford. McKee used his new skill to communicate with a semi-pro football team in Curitiba during his mission.

“American football isn’t as big in Brazil as you can imagine,” McKee said. “I didn’t suit up in pads and helmet. I just showed up to the practice and had their play card. It was fun to be with them and learn how they play the game and how we play the game and give them a little of my experience, so it was a lot of fun.”

Upon returning from his mission, McKee joined the Cardinal for the shortened 2020 season, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and saw limited playing time against Oregon.

With quarterback Davis Mills drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Houston Texans, Shaw and Stanford needed a new starting quarterback.

McKee and Jack West were battling for the job. West threw two interceptions as the starter in a season-opening loss to Kansas State. McKee’s effort in place of West earned him the job going forward.

“He’s a really talented guy, but even in the series against (Kansas State) he missed two touchdown passes,” Shaw said. “I think one of the biggest things was the last drive against Kansas State. … He settled down and it came together.”

McKee threw his first career touchdown and finished 15 of 18 for 118 yards against Kansas State.

Shaw said reevaluating McKee’s performance on film was the “big tipping point” to start him against the Trojans.

In his first career start, McKee completed 16 of 23 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Cardinal to a 42-28 victory over the Trojans.

“I watched a ton of games (at the Coliseum) and had some great experiences there,” McKee said. “It was a bit of a surreal experience knowing I was walking in to play the Trojans instead of just watching.”

McKee’s high school coach, Matt Logan, was among those in attendance to watch his former quarterback, along with the five former Huskies on USC’s roster, play in the Pac-12 Conference opener.

“He looked really good,” Logan said. “I was glad to see him make his first start in the Coliseum. I was able to text him a little bit after the game and tell him congratulations.”

The sophomore quarterback continued to find success on the road last weekend, running for one touchdown and throwing for two more on 19-of-29 passing for 219 yards without an interception in a 41-23 win over Vanderbilt.

McKee and the Cardinal are now preparing for their next mission: hosting UCLA at Stanford Stadium.

“He’s done a really nice job the last two weeks,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. “He did a great job beating USC and a great job beating Vanderbilt, so he’s our focus this week.”

The UCLA game will be McKee’s first home start.

“(UCLA) has a lot of guys that like to bring a lot of pressure,” McKee said. “Once we get that protected up, I feel like we can really make a dent in their defense by throwing the ball.”

UCLA’s defense allowed Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener to throw for 455 yards in a 40-37 Bruins loss Saturday at the Rose Bowl.

“We were actually watching that game when we were on the plane going back home after the Vanderbilt game,” McKee said. “It was pretty crazy, (Haener) was a baller and I didn’t know what injury he had but props to him.

“He’s a great quarterback, he’s a fighter and he’s gritty. We’re going to need all of (those same qualities) to beat UCLA on Saturday.”