Nagurski went both ways, in the backfield and on defense. Owen Marecic joins the club.

With the onset of fall camp comes the annual rite of fall passage: coaches across America, madly plotting and scheming, entertain the idea of utilizing their top talent — gasp —  on both sides of the ball. This type of talk is reserved for two types of players, by and large. The first is this year’s prized recruit, whose high school highlight tape, if it can be believed, indicated all-American ability as a wide receiver, cornerback, kick returner, what have you. This is more common; perhaps some coaches use this promise as a recruiting ploy — we’ll give you an opportunity no other school can offer. This scenario is also suggested for athletic upperclassmen, usually a defender moving to the offensive side of the ball, less often vice versa. This talk starts now, ends, oh, by Sept. 1.

The discussion continues at Stanford. Jim Harbaugh has remained committed to playing potential all-American fullback Owen Marecic both in his customary spot and at inside linebacker in the Cardinal’s new 3-4 base set. Yes, a fullback going both ways. The last fullback who did so? Bronko Nagurski?

Harbaugh isn’t playing lip service to the idea: as of today, Marecic sits atop the depth chart both at on offense and at inside linebacker. Will this stand? There’s no reason, based upon what Harbaugh has stated throughout the spring and summer, that Marecic won’t pull double duties.

On the offensive side of the ball, Marecic is one of the finest fullbacks in the country. He’s a three-time honorable mention all-conference pick, largely for the job he has done opening up holes for Stanford’s running backs –Toby Gerhart, most notably. Unlike his Pac-10 neighbor, U.S.C.’s Stanley Havili, Marecic is not asked to do much more than that. To be fair, Marecic is a solid receiver: he finished last fall with 8 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown, though he added only 15 yards on the ground.

As for Marecic’s future on defense, the senior does bring experience at linebacker to the table. He started in the middle in Stanford’s November win over Oregon last fall, as well as serving in certain short-yardage and goal line packages throughout the season. Yes, he’s a fullback first, linebacker second. But it’s not as if Marecic is a blank slate, a player only now learning the intricacies of the defensive side of the ball heading into his senior season.

Nevertheless, what does this say about Stanford’s defense? Well, it certainly makes a statement about a lack of depth in the front seven, for starters. In a perfect world, a player this important to the health of the running game — and thereby the health of the offense altogether — would focus on that primary goal, not spreading himself too thin.

If Stanford had remained in the 4-3, its base set under former defensive coordinator Andy Buh, Marecic’s services would not be needed — at least to this degree. The senior would have remained a piece of the puzzle on defense, just not in the starting lineup. In Stanford was to remain in last year’s defensive alignment, sophomore Shayne Skov would start in the middle, flanked by junior Thomas Keiser and sophomore Chase Thomas.

The new look will ask more of Marecic, of course. Stanford could also turn to senior Chike Amajoyi, should Marecic tire — which he’s sure to do. Amajoyi has made 17 starts over the last three years, including the first six games of 2009. This type of experienced depth will help.

Yes, Marecic’s two-way move makes a statement about the Stanford defense: in a perfect world, your all-American fullback would not also be your starting inside linebacker — not in this day and age, obviously. This plan also makes a statement about Marecic, however: he’s a superb athlete, even if a fullback, and perhaps the key to Stanford’s performance on both sides of the ball.