Stanford senior running back Stepfan Taylor has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2012 Doak Walker Award, honoring the nation's top running back in college football.

Taylor leads Stanford with a career-best 105.2 rushing yards per game and stands 53 yards away from becoming the first back in school history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Taylor has carried for 100 or more yards seven times in his past 11 games, and his 18 career 100-yard rushing games ranks second in Stanford history, trailing Toby Gerhart by two games.

Carrying the offensive load for Stanford this year, Taylor has risen to the occasion. He netted a career-high 213 offensive yards (153 rushing, 60 receiving) in the Cardinal's win over No. 2 USC. Taylor scored the game-winning touchdown on a 21-yard run in overtime as part of his 142 rushing yards against Arizona. In the 115th edition of the Big Game against rival Cal, Taylor tallied a new career-high of 189 rushing yards in Stanford's victory.

Through 206 carries and nine games this season, Taylor has not recorded a fumble. He owns an active streak of 252 consecutive rushes without a fumble dating back to Nov. 26, 2011.

Taylor is joined by Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Kenjon Barner (Oregon), Le'Veon Bell (Michigan State), Giovani Bernard (North Carolina), David Fluellen (Toledo), Johnathan Franklin (UCLA), Stefphon Jefferson (Nevada), Venric Mark (Northwestern) and Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State) as semifinalists for the nation's highest running back award.

Gerhart won the 2009 Doak Walker Award in his senior season at Stanford.

— Stanford Sports Information

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