Toby Gerhart comes into the 2010 NFL Draft as perhaps one of the most athletically gifted big backs. He started one game -- played in eleven -- as a freshman in 2006 on his way to lead the team in rushing with 403 yards on 106 carries (3.8 ypc.). He had a monster game against San Jose State in 2007 (141 yards, 11.75 ypc. with a TD) before hurting his knee, forcing him to miss the entire season. Then he got a medical redshirt that fall, but he came back with a vengeance the following year as he became only the fifth back in Stanford's history to topple the 1,000 yard mark (1,136). He also posted the school's second best ground scoring effort (15 TDs). All of this in the background of an impressive 101-1 TD effort against arguably the best defensive front seven in PAC-10 history (USC Trojans).
Gerhart has good size with well developed upper body strength. He is a good athlete who has also played baseball for the school's highly touted team. A straight-ahead runner who is best between the tackles, Gerhart has good vision, making him able to read blocks well. He is powerful and runs with good pad level. He is just an average blocker who shows a solid base to anchor against the blitz; he was used sparingly as a receiver, but when thrown to, he is able to routinely catch the football.
He has deceptive speed (4.55), but can't consistently turn the corner. Gerhart also does not have a second gear, and has limited experience pass blocking. His route running is inconsistent, at best and he has a poor feel for reading coverage. Gerhart is a player without a position; he is not fast enough to be a future back and not big enough to be a fullback.
Gerhart is a good, overall prospect with limited upside. His lack of explosiveness will most likely confine him to an H-back type of role in the NFL.
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Originally Posted by Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake
