Toby Gerhart is a professional
footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, a
running backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the
Minnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was a consensus
All-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n running back at
StanfordThe Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
and was selected in the second round of the
2010 NFL DraftThe 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, the 51st overall pick. In
2009The 2009 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal was coached by third-year coach Jim Harbaugh and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California....
Gerhart won the
Doak Walker AwardThe Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
and was the runner-up for the 2009
Heisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. He received 1276 points in the Heisman voting, coming in second to
Mark Ingram, Jr.Mark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr....
, who received 1304 points; the 28-point margin was the closest vote in Heisman history. Gerhart had a breakout senior season in 2009, leading all running backs in the nation in rushing yards, touchdowns, and points scored, and setting several Pac 10 and school records. He holds the Stanford records for most rushing yards in a season (1,871), most touchdowns in a season (28), and most touchdowns in a career (44).
High school career
Gerhart had a record-breaking career at running back for
Norco High SchoolNorco High School is a public high school serving 2,206 students from grades 9-12 in Norco, California, USA. It is part of the Corona-Norco Unified School District. The current principal is Lisa Simon.-Demographics:...
in
Norco, CaliforniaNorco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,063, up from 24,157 at the 2000 census...
. He set a California state record for rushing yards with 9,662 yards in his career. As of December 2009, Gerhart holds the third highest career total of running yards in national
high school footballHigh school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
history. He led Norco High School to the CIF Division 5 Southern Section football championship on December 9, 2005. Gerhart was named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year for the state of California and was named California's Mr. Football by Cal-Hi Sports. Gerhart also played
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and graduated as a
valedictorianValedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his high school class.
College football
Gerhart's high school statistics garnered him interest from many top
college footballCollege football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
programs. He ultimately committed to
Stanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
2006
In his freshman year, Gerhart backed up Anthony Kimble at the
halfbackA halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
position, starting one game. He rushed for 375 yards for the season, as Stanford struggled to a 1-11 record.
2007
In 2007, Gerhart played in only one game, against
San Jose StateThe San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
, in which he rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
2008
In 2008, Gerhart had a breakout season. He set the Stanford single-season rushing record with 1,136 yards, breaking
Tommy VardellThomas "Tommy" Arthur Vardell is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League.-College career:Tommy Vardell was a star running back for the Stanford Cardinal...
's school record of 1,084 yards. Gerhart was the fifth player in Stanford history to run for 1,000 yards or more in a season, after
Darrin NelsonDarren Milo Nelson is a former professional American football player in the National Football League....
,
Brad MusterBrad William Muster is a former American football fullback in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints from 1988 to 1994.Muster prepped at San Marin High School in Novato, CA, graduating in 1983....
,
Jon VolpeJon Volpe was a star running back in the Canadian Football League.Volpe took an unusual and inspiring path to football stardom. Coming from a family where his father would leave by the time he was 5 years old, his mother would become an alcoholic and live on the street, and his brother would go to...
, and
VardellThomas "Tommy" Arthur Vardell is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League.-College career:Tommy Vardell was a star running back for the Stanford Cardinal...
. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns, then the second highest single season total in Stanford history. His 8 games with 100 or more rushing yards were a Stanford record. He tied a Stanford record with four rushing touchdowns against Washington State. Gerhart averaged 5.4 yards per carry and finished third in the Pac-10 in rushing.
2009
In
2009The 2009 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal was coached by third-year coach Jim Harbaugh and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California....
, Gerhart had 1,871 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. Gerhart led the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards (1,871), rushing touchdowns (28), total touchdowns (28), and points scored (172 points). His 3,522 career rushing yards are the second most in Stanford history, behind
Darrin NelsonDarren Milo Nelson is a former professional American football player in the National Football League....
's 4,033 yards.
Gerhart rushed for over 100 yards in 11 of his 13 games in 2009. On September 26, 2009, he became only the sixth person in Stanford history to rush for 200 yards in a game, with 200 yards on 27 carries against
WashingtonWashington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
. On November 7, 2009, Gerhart recorded his second 200-yard game of the season, running for 223 yards against the 7th-ranked
Oregon DucksThe 2009 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2009. The team was led by head coach Chip Kelly in his first season as a head coach at the Division I FBS level. Kelly was only the third Ducks head coach since 1977 and led the Ducks to a...
, breaking the Stanford single-game rushing record previously held by
Jon VolpeJon Volpe was a star running back in the Canadian Football League.Volpe took an unusual and inspiring path to football stardom. Coming from a family where his father would leave by the time he was 5 years old, his mother would become an alcoholic and live on the street, and his brother would go to...
. On November 28, Gerhart ran for 205 yards and three rushing touchdowns in a 45-38 win over
Notre DameThe 2009 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2009 college football season. Charlie Weis entered his fifth season as head coach with the expectation from the Notre Dame administration that his team would be in position to compete for a BCS Bowl berth...
. This was his third 200-yard game of the season. Gerhart again tied the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game by running for four touchdowns against Cal. Gerhart also threw one pass in 2009, completing it for an 18-yard touchdown against Notre Dame.
Gerhart led Stanford to an 8-5 record and its first bowl berth in eight years. He finished the season first in Division 1A in rushing yards (1,871) and rushing touchdowns (28).
Gerhart was a consensus 2009 First-team
All-AmericaAn All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
selection. He was named the 2009 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He was one of five finalists for the 2009
Heisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
and finished in second place behind
Mark IngramMark Ingram, Jr. is a running back for the New Orleans Saints. Ingram is the son of former NFL wide receiver Mark Ingram, Sr....
by 28 points, the slimmest margin in the trophy's 74-year history. Gerhart is the winner of the 2009
Doak Walker AwardThe Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
as the best running back in the nation and of the Jim Brown Trophy presented to the top running back in college football by the
Touchdown Club of ColumbusThe Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of State Auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More than a decade later, his son Sam Nicola, Jr...
. Gerhart won the
Touchdown Club of ColumbusThe Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of State Auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More than a decade later, his son Sam Nicola, Jr...
'
Archie Griffin AwardThe Archie Griffin Award, named after the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in history Archie Griffin, was first presented to Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick in 1999. The specially designed ring is one of the few college football awards presented after all bowl games are completed and...
, which is awarded after the completion of the bowl games to college football's MVP for the season.
Gerhart was a starting
outfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the
baseball teamThe Stanford Cardinal baseball team represents Stanford University in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Stanford athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Cardinal play their home games on campus at the Sunken Diamond, and they are...
. He passed up the opportunity to play professional baseball after the 2009 season to return for his senior year at Stanford.
He majored in Management Science and Engineering.
Personal
Gerhart's father Todd was a running back at Cal State Fullerton, played in the USFL, and coached him in high school.
Toby is the oldest of six children, four of them collegiate athletes. Brother Garth is an offensive lineman at
Arizona StateThe Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
, while three sisters (who are triplets) play softball: Kelsey and Teagan play at Stanford, and Whitley plays at Cal Poly. Youngest brother Coltin plays the position of quarterback.
Statistics
| Season | |Rushing | | | |Receiving |
| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
| 2006 |
106 |
375 |
3.5 |
38 |
0 |
15 |
124 |
8.3 |
16 |
0 |
| 2007 |
12 |
140 |
11.7 |
48 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2008The 2008 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach was Jim Harbaugh, who entered his second year at Stanford. The team played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California and competed in the...
|
210 |
1,136 |
5.4 |
46 |
15 |
13 |
114 |
8.8 |
21 |
0 |
| 2009 The 2009 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal was coached by third-year coach Jim Harbaugh and played their home games at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California....
|
343 |
1,871 |
5.5 |
61 |
28 |
11 |
157 |
14.3 |
33 |
0 |
| Total |
671 | 3,522 | 5.2 | 61 | 44 |
39 | 395 | 10.1 | 33 | 0 |
Awards and honors
- 2009 Consensus First-team All-American
An All-American team is an honorary sports team for a specific season composed of the best amateur players at each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
(Associated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, Walter Camp Football FoundationThe Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
, Football Writers Association of AmericaThe Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
, Sporting News)
- 2009 Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
- 2009 Archie Griffin Award
The Archie Griffin Award, named after the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in history Archie Griffin, was first presented to Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick in 1999. The specially designed ring is one of the few college football awards presented after all bowl games are completed and...
- 2009 Jim Brown Trophy
- 2009 National Offensive Player of the Year (CBSSports.com)
- 2009 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year
- 2009 First-team All-Pac-10
- 2009 First-team Pac-10 All-Academic Team
- Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week, four times (Oct. 11, 2008; Nov. 7, 2009; Nov. 14, 2009; Nov. 28, 2009)
- 2009 Tom Hansen Conference Medal
- 2008 Second-team All-Pac-10
- 2008 Second-team Pac-10 All-Academic Team
- 2005 California Mr. Football, Cal-Hi Sports
- 2005 Gatorade California Player of the Year
- 2005 Glenn Davis Award
The Glenn Davis Award is given out annually since 1987 by the Los Angeles Times to the best high school football player in the Los Angeles area. It is named after Glenn Woodward Davis, the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner, who prepped at Bonita High School in La Verne, California and Cal Poly Pomona in...
Records
Pac-10 records
- Most rushing touchdowns in a season (28) in 2009
- Most total touchdowns in a season (28) in 2009
- Most points scored in a season (172) in 2009
Stanford career records
- Most career touchdowns (44)
- Most career rushing touchdowns (44)
- Most career 100 yard rushing games (20)
- Most career 200 yard rushing games (3) (tied)
Stanford single season records (2009)
- Most rushing yards in a season (1,871)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a season (28)
- Most total touchdowns in a season (28)
- Most points scored in a season (172)
- Most yards from scrimmage in a season (2,028)
- Most 100 yard rushing games in a season (11)
- Most 200 yard rushing games in a season (3)
- Most consecutive 100 yard rushing games (7)
Stanford single game records
- Most rushing yards in a game (223)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a game (4) (twice) (tied)
Baseball
Gerhart was offered a lucrative contract to play baseball after the
2009 Major League Baseball DraftThe 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
in June, but opted to play football during the
2009 college football seasonThe 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
.
Pre-Draft
Due to his knee injury in 2007, he had a potential additional year of
college footballCollege football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
eligibility. He chose to forgo this additional year and enter the
2010 NFL DraftThe 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
.
Minnesota Vikings
Gerhart was selected in the second round of the
2010 NFL DraftThe 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, the 51st overall selection by the
Minnesota VikingsThe 2010 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League, and the fifth under head coach Brad Childress until November 22, when he was fired and Leslie Frazier was named interim head coach...
. A four-year contract was signed on July 30, and Gerhart's first career rushing touchdown as a professional came in a win against the
Washington RedskinsThe 2010 Washington Redskins season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League , and their first under new head coach Mike Shanahan, who also began his term as the team's Vice President of Football Operations...
on November 28, 2010.
External links
- Toby Gerhart Highlight Video at YouTube.com, Stanford Athletics channel
- Stats at ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com
- Stanford Cardinal football bio