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Stanford Two Sport Star Continues Impressive Haul

ORLANDO, Fla.– Stanford running back Toby Gerhart was named the 2009 Doak Walker Award winner following a record-breaking senior season.

Gerhart was presented the award by 1976 Heisman Trophy candidate Tony Dorsett as a part of the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, beating out fellow finalists Mark Ingram of Alabama and C.J. Spiller of Clemson. He is

Doak Walker Award winner Toby Gerhart

the first award winner for the Doak Walker Award from Stanford.

Gerhart is also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, which will be announced Saturday night in New York.

“It’s been remarkable, going from being 1-11 and football not being fun to now,” said Gerhart to ESPN’s Chris Fowler after receiving the award. “I give credit to Coach Harbaugh and the Stanford football players for turning it around.”

Gerhart enters the New Year’s Eve Brut Sun Bowl against Oklahoma as the nation’s leader in touchdowns (26) and total net rushing yards (1,736). His 144.7 yards per game average ranks second in the nation. Gerhart has broken the school record for rushing yards in back-to-back years, and has set a new standard for rushing touchdowns both at Stanford and in the Pac-10, with 26. His 41 career touchdowns are also a school record, while his 3,387 yards are second all-time.

Gerhart was also recently named a Walter Camp Foundation First Team All-American and the 2009 Pac 10 conference Player of the Year.

The Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to recognize the nation’s premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. It is the only major collegiate football award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

The award is named after Doak Walker, a versatile three-time All-American, who also punted, returned punts and kickoffs, and kicked extra points at Southern Methodist. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1949 and went onto a six-year career with the Detroit Lions. He is also a member of the College and NFL Halls of Fame.

Gerhart has also been a member of the Stanford baseball team for the past three seasons.  He helped the Cardinal earn a berth in the 2008 College World Series.  Collegebaseball360.com has followed Gerhart and other two sport athletes throughout the fall in the Two Sport Reports.

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Irish Two Sport Star Is The First ND Player To Receive The Honor

2009 Biletnikoff Award Winner Golden Tate

history. He finished with 93 receptions for 1,496 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in 2009. Tate added two rushing touchdowns, one punt return for a score and totaled 1,915 all-purpose yards, second most in Irish single-season history.

Tate equaled or surpassed eight school records this year, including most catches and receiving yards in a season, tied for most touchdown catches in a season, most receiving yards in a career, most 100-yard receiving games in a season and career, most receiving yards per game in a season and tied for most consecutive games with a touchdown reception.

Tate ranks in the top eight nationally in nine different statistical categories and no wide receiver had more games with at least 100 receiving yards this year than Tate’s nine. He also scored at least one touchdown in each of the final 11 contests for Notre Dame.

The American Football Coaches Association has already named Tate, who shared Irish season MVP honors with junior QB Jimmy Clausen, a first-team All-American.

Tate, who recently declared his intention to enter the 2010 NFL draft, departs as the most prolific receiver in Notre Dame history. He recorded 2,707 receiving yards on 157 receptions with 26 touchdowns. Tate ranks second in career touchdown receptions and is tied for third in career receptions.

Tate is the first Irish player to be named Walter Camp First Team All-American since defensive back Shane Walton received the honor following the 2002 season. He is also the first Notre Dame offensive player to earn first-team honors from Walter Camp since offensive tackle Mike Rosenthal in 1998. In fact, Tate is the first Irish wideout to accomplish the feat since Raghib Ismail in 1990.

Tate is the first Notre Dame receiver to take home the Biletnikoff Award. Former All-American Jeff Samardzija was a two-time finalist (2005, 2006), while Derrick Mayes was a two-time semifinalist (1994, 1995).

Tate has also played for Dave Schrage’s Fighting Irish baseball team for the last two seasons.  Collegebaseball360.com has followed Tate and other two sport athletes in the Two Sport Reports throughout the fall.

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