In the fifth round and 140th overall, the Arizona Cardinals added depth at the running back position by adding the all-time leading rusher in Stanford football history, Stepfan Taylor.
The 5-9, 216 pound product from Mansfield, Texas is a hard running durable back who never missed a game in his collegiate career in Palo Alto. He started 39 of 53 games totaling 4,300 yards on 843 carries and had 40 rushing touchdowns which is good for second all-time in Stanford history.
“I was just being patient and things were going to work out the right way and they definitely did,” Taylor said. “This is an perfect situation for me. I am ready to come in and work.”
“I feel like looking at the draft, we got some more good players coming in, so I’m very excited,” Taylor added.
He became the ninth player in Pac-12 conference history to rush for more than 4,000 yards in a career and is sixth all-time in rushing yards in conference history. Taylor believes the style of offense he ran with the Cardinal will have him ready to compete for starting job with the Cardinals.
“That’s definitely my goal,” Taylor mentioned. “I am going to come in and compete. I feel like that’s what they saw in me, and that’s what they want from me…I can say I am a real competitive person and I am going to bring that.”
Taylor is now added on the Cardinals depth chart with newly acquired free agent Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams. Both are coming off season’s with injuries so Taylor’s track record of being injury free could bring some stability to the teams running back core.
“My strength is I feel like I am a complete back,” Taylor explained. “I run the ball, pass protect, and catch the ball; vision, patience and intelligence of the game, just knowing the game and being able to be coachable and learn what the coaches are bringing to the table and be able to dissect that and understand that for preparation and things like that.
“I feel like the situation with the Arizona Cardinals is going to be great,” Taylor added. “I can improve on my strengths and weaknesses.”
