April 27, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the seventh pick (140th overall) of the fifth round in the 2013 NFL Draft Saturday.
"It's a blessing to be a part of the Arizona Cardinals’ (organization),” said Taylor. “This is the perfect situation for me. I want to thank the Stanford family for the last four years, all of their support and best wishes."
Taylor joins former Stanford teammates Levin Toilolo (Atlanta) and Zach Ertz (Philadelphia) to be chosen so far in the 2013 draft. He has some history with the state of Arizona, having rushed for a school-record four touchdowns against the University of Arizona during a 2010 victory.
Stanford's career rushing leader with 4,300 yards on a school-record 843 carries, Taylor was a productivity machine throughout his time on The Farm. Taylor collected 40 career rushing touchdowns (second in school history) and 45 total touchdowns (first).
In 2012, Taylor became the first Stanford player to record three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He had some of his biggest games under the national spotlight.
Taylor ran for 88 yards and a touchdown against Wisconsin in a Rose Bowl Game victory; he rushed 33 times for 161 yards in an overtime win at No. 1 Oregon, the eighth-most carries ever by a Stanford back in a single game. In another spotlight game Taylor gained 153 yards and a touchdown with another 60 yards through the air and a TD in a win over No. 2 USC. His 213 offensive yards against the Trojans was a career-high.
All told, Taylor collected 1,530 rushing yards in 2012, the second-highest in school history with 13 rushing touchdowns. He added 287 yards and two more scores on 41 receptions out of the backfield and had eight 100-yard rushing performances on the season.
The last Stanford player selected by Arizona was tight end Jim Dray, chosen in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.
Stanford's 2013 Draft class finished their Cardinal careers with three straight BCS bowl games and a 25-2 record at Stanford Stadium.