It’s second down and 1 yard to go on the USC 34 yard line. Stanford’s offense comes out of the huddle with 2 receivers wide right, a full back and a running back in the backfield. Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan hands off the ball to the running back who bears down on the trenches; the offensive guards are hopelessly overwhelmed in their blocking assignments. The running back runs right into the fray of Trojans, with nowhere to go. Suddenly, number 25 comes darting out of the pile of players, sprints right and then up field. Defenders are stunned; there is no way his knees aren’t hit the ground. But he sprints up field only challenged by one defensive back and dives into the end zone. Touchdown Stanford. This game-breaking play was orchestrated by none other than Cathedral alumnus Tyler Gaffney

Tyler’s football days hail all the way back from the first CCHS freshman football team to set foot in Manchester stadium in 2005. After a year on freshman football, he made his way up the ranks, and finally his senior year, lead the Dons to a state title. Following that, he was recruited by Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. His first 2 years at Stanford passed quietly, only rushing for 704 yards and 11 touchdowns. After sitting the last 3 games out, Tyler pursued a career in the minor leagues. He played for the State College Spikes, a farm team, before returning to Stanford for one last year of football.

In his last year with Stanford, Tyler rushed for 1709 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a PAC-12 Title MVP and an appearance in the 100^th Rose Bowl. This year, in the 2014 NFL draft, Tyler was selected with the 209^th pick by the Carolina Panthers. I had the opportunity to speak to Tyler about his upcoming endeavors and what’s brought him success so far:

El Cid – So first and foremost, Congrats on making the NFL. From your first start as a freshman football player at Cathedral to your drafting, what has been the biggest motivating factor in your pursuit of this goal?

Tyler Gaffney -My biggest motivating factor has been myself. I constantly tell myself that I can be great; the only thing holding me back from that is myself. I’m super-competitive, and when I’m not on the winning side, I try to figure out how can I be the guy with the trophy. People have always tried to tell me I’m not good enough, I’m not fast enough, I’m not big enough, etc. That does give a little extra motivation, a little more fuel to the fire.

El Cid – After a stellar last year at Stanford winning the PAC 12 and competing in the Rose Bowl, what has prepared you most to make the transition to the NFL?

Tyler Gaffney -A little bit of everything has prepared me to be a player in the NFL. If I had to choose one thing, it would be my work ethic, which was partly groomed here around Stanford but mostly has been “self want”, which has landed me where I am today.

El Cid – After having completed rookie minicamp and moving on to OTA’s/training camp, what is your outlook on working with an already high-level backfield behind guys like Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, and Kenjon Barner?

Tyler Gaffney -Same as it’s always been – come in and find a way to make an impact. You don’t become a great player by waiting around for something to happen. You have to take it. I hope to learn from all of them, and I feel lucky enough to be playing with their caliber of players. I also hope to maybe teach them something along the way whether it be football related or not 

El Cid – Having played at the highest level in the NCAA and now moving on to the pro football circuit, is their any words of wisdom to offer fellow Dons aspiring for similar goals?

Tyler Gaffney -Keep at it. People are going to tell you that your not going to make it, not good enough, whatever it may be. Remember to dismiss all the haters and use it strictly as fuel to the fire. The only person to determine what you’re capable of is yourself

Tyler is signed by the Panthers to a rookie contract, which will hold up assuming he is not released before final cuts are made at the end of the preseason. Be sure to follow @elcidsports for all the latest Cathedral sports updates. #rolldons