For what its worth, at the recruiting session of the Stanford camp my son attended, Stanford coaches also said the early recruiting was really hurting them as well. They may be able to offer athletic money, but the coach said they are not going to be asking for any commitments before they are certain a player can be admitted, which is after the testing results are in. So he said Junior year would be the earliest they would seek a commitment, while Cal (a hated rival across the Bay) has been getting commitments from Freshman and Sophomores.
And to offer a Southern California perspective to Buckeye's view about Stanford versus an Ivy, there are few of any kids who grow up in California that given the choice between Stanford or an Ivy would choose the Ivy. In fact, many of the non athlete kids in my son's school who have gotten admitted to both have chosen Stanford. While the Ivy schools are truly elite and iconic, for a kid who wants to stay in California with a job after graduation, Stanford is the better choice. Add in the weather difference and campus experience of a Pac 12 sports experience, and the decision is pretty understandable.