Stanford Running Back Toby Gerhart: “It was the same thing coming out of high school, you know, people were questioning whether I could play tailback at the next level.”
December 2, 2009 – 5:30 am by Michael Bean
The 2009 regular season is in the books for the upstart Stanford Cardinal football program. Led by former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh as their head coach, Stanford has gone from total afterthought in the PAC 10 football landscape to formidable power just three years into his tenure in Palo Alto. The highlight of the season was a 55-21 victory over USC on the road – the loss was the first November loss for Pete Carroll, the 55 points were the most ever allowed by a USC team, and of course, the victory was the second straight for Stanford over the perennial powerhouse out West.
Much of the Cardinal’s success has to be attributed to the bruising running attack led by Toby Gerhart. The senior ‘back has 1,736 yards, 26 TDs and at least 100+ rushing yards in all but two of Stanford’s games. Gerhart joined The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio to talk about the amazing year he and the Cardinal have had, what an honor it’s been being in Heisman Trophy talk, how he plans to prove doubters wrong at the next level, and why he believes Stanford’s freshman quarterback Andrew Luck will accomplish amazing things in the years to come.
On what it was like being named in Heisman Trophy talk for much of this season:
“You know, it was an honor. It was extremely exciting and I don’t think there was a day I was more excited then when my name was first getting mentioned. To still be considered at this point, it’s an honor and you know, I’m living a dream.”
On not playing with any protection on his arms and how that leads to them being scratched and bloodied by game’s end most weeks:
“Yeah my arms do take a beating. They’re always bruised, battered, cuts, bleeding. That’s just the toll they take throughout the game.”
On if there was on particular moment from this year that he’ll look back on when remembering this fantastic season for him individually and for the Cardinal program as a whole:
“I would say it’d be our game against USC. I’d say it wasn’t with me directly, but after Sherman took the interception back, turning around and looking at the stands and just seeing the fans pile out of there. USC has been the PAC 10 power for the last 6 or 7 years, and you know, Stanford’s always been at the bottom. And my junior year, finally getting to the point where we’re beating USC in The Coliseum, taking it to them and their fans getting up and leaving. That’s something I’ll close my eyes as I’m older and will always remember that day.”
On Stanford’s sensational freshman quarterback Andrew Luck:
“Oh man, he’s going to be the real deal. I mean, he showed it this year. I mean, he put up phenomenal numbers, phenomenal leadership in the huddle and he’s the real deal. We nicknamed him his true freshman year The Truth – he’s going to do it all, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be a legitimate Heisman contender himself and potential #1 overall draft pick in the next couple of years.”
On if he thinks his abilities will translate to success at the NFL level:
“No, I think it will translate. It was the same thing coming out of high school, you know, people were questioning whether I could play tailback at the next level. And I think the past four years I’ve proven that. Yeah, there’s definitely going to be questions going in, I’ll prepare for the Combine, run a good 40-time at the Combine, and hopefully get a shot and prove people wrong, and there’s no doubt I can do it at the next level.”
Listen here to Gerhart on The Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio
Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, best running backs in college football, Pac 10 Football, Scott Van Pelt, Stanford Cardinal, Toby Gerhart
