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Stanford senior running back Toby Gerhart was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the outstanding player in college football, Maxwell Football Club President and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski announced Wednesday.

Gerhart continues to lead the Pac-10 and ranks seventh nationally in rushing, averaging 124.2 yards per game. He has surpassed the 100-yard mark in six of Stanford's eight games this season, including a career best 200-yard effort against Washington.

Gerhart needs 142 more yards to equal his own single-season rushing record of 1,136 yards of last season. He also needs six yards to become the second player in Stanford history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, joining Darrin Nelson.

Gerhart currently ranks third on Stanford's all-time career rushing list with 2,645 yards, 295 behind Brad Muster for second place.

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, who is credited for helping establish some of the modern rules of the game.

— PA Weekly Online Sports