Draft Headed to Stanford

Valencia’s Chris Draft, The Times Orange County’s back of the year, made an oral commitment to Stanford Tuesday night.

Draft, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker and running back, picked Stanford over UCLA and USC.

“Making a decision was real hard,” Draft said. “Everyone I talked to said I can’t go wrong with any of them.”

A Stanford education and a football staff led by Coach Bill Walsh were two of the deciding factors.

A two-time all-county selection, Draft rushed for 1,338 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season. He rushed for 3,038 yards in three years, but started at running back only two seasons.

In his third year as a starter at linebacker, Draft was third on the team in tackles and had nine sacks. His sophomore and junior years, the Tigers won the Southern Section Division VI championship. Last season, Valencia lost to eventual champion Savanna in the Division VI semifinals.

Draft said he isn’t sure what position he will play at Stanford.

“The defensive coaches want me at linebacker, and the offensive coaches and Coach Walsh want me at running back,” Draft said. “But they said they’ll give me the choice, so we’ll see.”