Stanford's Gerhart to enter NFL draft

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Heisman Trophy runner-up running back Toby Gerhart says he is leaving Stanford, where he has one year of eligibility remaining, to enter the NFL draft.

Gerhart finished second to Alabama running back Mark Ingham in the Heisman Trophy voting for last season. He was 28 ballot points behind Ingham in the closest voting ever for the trophy awarded to college football's best player.

However, he did win the Doak Walker Award, given to the best college-level running back.

"Toby will be a great pro and we are all excited for his opportunity at the next level," Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh said Friday when Gerhart announced his decision. "We are excited and enthused to watch Toby and all of our seniors go on to become leaders in their chosen fields."

Gerhart set a Stanford record last season with 1,871 rushing yards. He led the nation with 28 rushing touchdowns. Gerhart had at least 100 yards 11 during the Cardinals' 8-5 2009 season. He had 3,522 yards and 44 touchdowns in 671 carries (5.2 yards a carry) during his career at Stanford.

He was a senior but had eligibility left because of a 2007 knee injury.