Tyler Gaffney

Gaffney spent three seasons stuck as the back-up RB behind Toby Gerhart and Stepfan Taylor, recording 791 combined yards over his first three years at Stanford. He also played three seasons of baseball for the Cardinal and decided to play baseball in 2012 after he was selected in the 24th round of the MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates - batted .297 for State College (Pa.) in the Class-A New York-Penn League. But he returned to the Stanford football team in 2013 and earned the starting running back job, finishing eighth in the country in rushing yards (1,709). Gaffney is built well for the position and has the power and coordinated athleticism that fit the Stanford ground-and-pound style. He's at his best when he stays patient and allows blocks to develop, but too often he runs into the backs of his blockers and struggles to stay clean as a runner with streaky vision. Gaffney is a little slow through the line of scrimmage, but he's a workhorse who can wear down defenses - worth a third day draft pick to be a complimentary piece of a NFL backfield.

will have some drops when he takes his eyes off the ball. only one season as a starter and production comes in a run-heavy, smash-mouth offense. where does baseball fit in his long-term plans?

--Dane Brugler

strengths

Solidly-built with good body strength. Balanced runner with admirable toughness to shake and slide off tacklers. Runs hard and physical and would rather go through defenders than around them - will deliver hits with a strong stiff arm and often fall forward. Coordinated athlete with light feet.

tough at the point of attack and not easy to bring down with arm tackles. strong inside runner and a very smart and assignment sound runner to stay in his lane. churns out yards as a workhorse back and runs the same late in games as he does in the 1st quarter.

Gives up his frame as a blocker. Ability as a receiver out of the backfield. Productive senior season and finished top-10 in the FBS in rushing yards (1,709) and rushing scores (21) despite not playing football in 2012. Dedicated and hard-working athlete and gets the most out of his body and ability.

weaknesses

Lack of burst shows after slowing down or changing directions. Doesn't have much body wiggle to elude in space. Inconsistent vision and not always decisive at the line of scrimmage. Sluggish through the middle and takes too long to get north-south. Bad habit of running up the backs of his blockers and needs to be more agile between the hashes.

Graduated from Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) and played for head football coach Sean Doyle

Named to San Diego Union-Tribune to the All-Time All-County First Team in February 2013

Nation’s top fullback prospect by SuperPrep Magazine, third by Scout and fourth by Rivals

PrepStar All-American

5,547 rushing yards, 46 receptions for 730 yards and totaled 99 touchdowns during prep career

2008 Cal-Hi Sports “Mr. Football”

San Diego Section record 2,866 yards on 295 carries with 48 rushing touchdowns as a senior

26 catches for 428 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior

56 total touchdowns as a senior, fourth-best single-season total in California history

Four or more rushing touchdowns in seven games during senior campaign

Seven touchdowns and 228 yards rushing as a senior against Scripps Ranch

337 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2008 state title game

Led school to 14-0 season and first state crown in 2008

1,552 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, 20 receptions for 302 yards and five touchdowns in 2007

CIF San Diego Section record holder for most points scored in a career (598)

CIF San Diego Section record holder for most points in a season (336)

CIF San Diego Section record holder for single-season rushing yards (2,866)

CIF San Diego Section record holder for single-season rushing touchdowns (48)

CIF San Diego Section record holder for single-game touchdowns (7). Second all-time in CIF San Diego Section with 5,547 career rushing yards

Cal-Hi Sports first team all-state (medium schools)

MaxPreps Division II All-State Player of the Year

MaxPreps All-America first team (media schools)

SuperPrep Far West Offensive Player of the Year

GoldenStatePrep Player of the Year

ESPN All-American first team

GoldenStatePrep Southern California Player of the Year

San Diego Hall of Champions Breitbard All-CIF Offensive Player of the Year

Eastern League Offensive Player of the Year

KUSI Silver Pigskin Award

North County Times All-North County team

San Diego Union-Tribune Offensive Player of the Year

National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete of the Year

All-Eastern League Offensive Player of the Year as a junior

San Diego Union-Tribune All-San Diego Section first team as a junior.

Oldest son of Gene and Tiffani Gaffney

Younger brother, Drew, is a high school All-American playing rugby at California

Father played baseball at the University of San Diego from 1981-82.