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NFL Draft Prospects: Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford
Written by MC3 Sports Media
http://www.xtrapointfootball.com/20...pects-toby-gerhart-running-back-stanford.html
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 08:19
The college football season is over; withdrawals, depression, misery. Before you slip into an apathetic stupor for eight months, remember that the NFL Draft is just around the corner! From now until April's NFL Draft, I will be profiling some of the more interesting prospects. I can't promise that I'll get to your favorite player, but if you'd like to see a certain player profiled, shoot us an email and let us know.
It must have been really hard for Heisman voters not to put Toby Gerhart at the top of their ballot. That's not meant as a slight to Mark Ingram, but is more of a testament to the man who now holds the Stanford single season record for rushing yards and touchdowns, has scored more career touchdowns than anybody at the Cardinal and led his team to their first bowl bid since 2001.
Gerhart won't be the fastest guy at the NFL Scouting Combine and he doesn't fit the prototypical running back mold, but it's his other attributes, some of which cannot be accurately measured, that will have NFL scouts paying attention.
If you haven't seen Gerhart play I feel sorry for you. It's not like watching C.J. Spiller torch a defense or like watching Reggie Bush leap through the air-both awesome spectacles-but watching Gerhart you realize what tremendous heart he plays with.
He carries himself with a quiet confidence and does whatever his coaches ask of him. Carry the ball 20, 30, 38 times a game? No problem. Throw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to tie the game against the Irish? No problem. I still do not understand why he wasn't called upon trailing by a touchdown at the Cal 13 yard line with over a minute and a half to go after he caught a 29 yard pass from Andrew Luck to move Stanford into the red zone. But that's a topic for another day.
Heart and leadership are not the only things that have made Gerhart one of the top backs in this year's draft. He's also got a little thing called skill to go along with his impressive set of intangibles.
Gerhart runs with tremendous power and he's virtually impossible to take down on initial contact. His breakaway speed is a thing to behold for a back that runs with his power. While he'll probably run a 4.6ish later this month at the Scouting Combine, what Gerhart has is football speed. He's also a lot more elusive than most people think, even if he doesn't have Barry Sanders-like moves.
For all that he has going for him, Gerhart is not likely to be picked until the second round-probably somewhere in the middle of the round. Although scouts are going to recognize his football speed, many teams are still wooed by 40 times and 'prototypical' backs.
With the emergence of the two-back system, look for Gerhart to thrive as the thunder to another back's lightening. He may not develop into that every down back, even with his deceptive speed and elusiveness, but Gerhart has a bright NFL future ahead of him. Of course, it may not be wise to put limits on the NFL future of a kid with Gerhart's will, coachability (sure it's a word) and work ethic. - Danny Hobrock
Danny is a sports journalist who primarily covers college football and professional baseball. He is a contributor for several sports related blogs and is the former editor of a political and current events website.
For complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, check out our complete series of NFL Draft Prospects Profiles with more being added each week:
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame
•Rolando McClain (Alabama): Best inside linebacker in the draft
•NFL Draft Prospects: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators
•NFL Draft Prospects: Eric Berry, Defensive Back, Tennessee
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jimmy Graham, Tight End, Miami
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jordan Shipley, Wide Receiver, Texas Longhorns
•NFL Draft Prospects: Dexter McCluster, Running Back, Ole' Miss Rebels
•NFL Draft Prospects: C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers
•NFL Draft Prospects: Aaron Hernandez, Tight End, Florida Gators
•NFL Draft Prospects: Terrence Cody, Defensive Tackle, Alabama Crimson Tide
If you haven't voted in our polls on the site yet please do so. We are trying to get a feel for how our readers are looking at Football so we can write about things they want to hear. The poll questions are:
"Do you think the NCAA should have a Playoff to determine the National Champion rather than the BCS / Bowl System?"
and
"Should the NFL adopt the NCAA method of Overtime or continue to flip a coin for possession and have sudden death?"
Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who
Written by MC3 Sports Media
http://www.xtrapointfootball.com/20...pects-toby-gerhart-running-back-stanford.html
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 08:19
The college football season is over; withdrawals, depression, misery. Before you slip into an apathetic stupor for eight months, remember that the NFL Draft is just around the corner! From now until April's NFL Draft, I will be profiling some of the more interesting prospects. I can't promise that I'll get to your favorite player, but if you'd like to see a certain player profiled, shoot us an email and let us know.
It must have been really hard for Heisman voters not to put Toby Gerhart at the top of their ballot. That's not meant as a slight to Mark Ingram, but is more of a testament to the man who now holds the Stanford single season record for rushing yards and touchdowns, has scored more career touchdowns than anybody at the Cardinal and led his team to their first bowl bid since 2001.
Gerhart won't be the fastest guy at the NFL Scouting Combine and he doesn't fit the prototypical running back mold, but it's his other attributes, some of which cannot be accurately measured, that will have NFL scouts paying attention.
If you haven't seen Gerhart play I feel sorry for you. It's not like watching C.J. Spiller torch a defense or like watching Reggie Bush leap through the air-both awesome spectacles-but watching Gerhart you realize what tremendous heart he plays with.
He carries himself with a quiet confidence and does whatever his coaches ask of him. Carry the ball 20, 30, 38 times a game? No problem. Throw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to tie the game against the Irish? No problem. I still do not understand why he wasn't called upon trailing by a touchdown at the Cal 13 yard line with over a minute and a half to go after he caught a 29 yard pass from Andrew Luck to move Stanford into the red zone. But that's a topic for another day.
Heart and leadership are not the only things that have made Gerhart one of the top backs in this year's draft. He's also got a little thing called skill to go along with his impressive set of intangibles.
Gerhart runs with tremendous power and he's virtually impossible to take down on initial contact. His breakaway speed is a thing to behold for a back that runs with his power. While he'll probably run a 4.6ish later this month at the Scouting Combine, what Gerhart has is football speed. He's also a lot more elusive than most people think, even if he doesn't have Barry Sanders-like moves.
For all that he has going for him, Gerhart is not likely to be picked until the second round-probably somewhere in the middle of the round. Although scouts are going to recognize his football speed, many teams are still wooed by 40 times and 'prototypical' backs.
With the emergence of the two-back system, look for Gerhart to thrive as the thunder to another back's lightening. He may not develop into that every down back, even with his deceptive speed and elusiveness, but Gerhart has a bright NFL future ahead of him. Of course, it may not be wise to put limits on the NFL future of a kid with Gerhart's will, coachability (sure it's a word) and work ethic. - Danny Hobrock
Danny is a sports journalist who primarily covers college football and professional baseball. He is a contributor for several sports related blogs and is the former editor of a political and current events website.
For complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, check out our complete series of NFL Draft Prospects Profiles with more being added each week:
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame
•Rolando McClain (Alabama): Best inside linebacker in the draft
•NFL Draft Prospects: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators
•NFL Draft Prospects: Eric Berry, Defensive Back, Tennessee
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jimmy Graham, Tight End, Miami
•NFL Draft Prospects: Jordan Shipley, Wide Receiver, Texas Longhorns
•NFL Draft Prospects: Dexter McCluster, Running Back, Ole' Miss Rebels
•NFL Draft Prospects: C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers
•NFL Draft Prospects: Aaron Hernandez, Tight End, Florida Gators
•NFL Draft Prospects: Terrence Cody, Defensive Tackle, Alabama Crimson Tide
If you haven't voted in our polls on the site yet please do so. We are trying to get a feel for how our readers are looking at Football so we can write about things they want to hear. The poll questions are:
"Do you think the NCAA should have a Playoff to determine the National Champion rather than the BCS / Bowl System?"
and
"Should the NFL adopt the NCAA method of Overtime or continue to flip a coin for possession and have sudden death?"
Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who
