Draft’s Pick: One Sport : Stanford Linebacker Will Drop Baseball to Focus on Football

College football bowl games, when not deciding a national championship, serve to reward teams for their play during the regular season.

That is certainly the case for Stanford, which meets Michigan State Tuesday in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Both teams have 6-5 records.

But the game also signals a new beginning for Cardinal linebacker Chris Draft.

Since Draft, a standout at Valencia High, began at Stanford in 1993, he has been a two-sport athlete, playing football and baseball. But recently, Draft decided to be exclusively a football player.

“That’s correct,” said Draft, speaking by phone after a Cardinal practice. “Right now, football has taken over. I felt like by playing both I haven’t been able to give everything to either one. It’s been frustrating, so I’m going to stick with football.

“I’ve decided I want to be at the top of my [football] game coming into my senior year. I felt there have been little things this season that, had I worked during the summer just concentrating on football, I might have been able to correct in my game. I didn’t feel rested or fresh the whole season. Baseball, school and football are all time consuming.

“I’m not forgetting baseball, but I won’t play this year. I’ll put it on the back burner.”

If Draft believes he wasn’t giving his all, his performance didn’t show it.

He has been considered Stanford’s top defensive player the past two seasons. In 1995, he led the Cardinal in tackles with 103. This season he has 97, second to teammate Jon Haskins (100). His 8.8 tackles-per-game average ranked 10th in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Draft also had three tackles for losses, two sacks, two forced fumbles and he broke up three pass attempts. He earned second-team all-conference honors this season after being selected honorable mention as a sophomore.

His coach at Valencia, Mike Marrujo, said he is not surprised by Draft’s accomplishments in college. Marrujo has seen similar talent a couple of times before at Downey Pius X and Valencia.

“When I had him it was obvious how gifted he was,” Marrujo said. “Special kids always stand out. I’ve had Darrin Nelson [a running back with Stanford and the Minnesota Vikings], and offensive lineman Joe Garten [with Colorado and the Green Bay Packers]. When they were here, they were so much better than everyone else. I put Chris in that category.”

It helped that the Stanford coaching staff decided to keep Draft, who was named to The Times all-county team in 1993, at one position.

As a freshman, Draft was originally considered a running back, but played defensive end, outside linebacker and strong safety. Since then, he has remained an inside linebacker.

“If they asked me to move again, I would,” Draft said. “All I ask is to be given enough time to learn the position and play to the best of my ability.”

Draft said he hopes to draw some attention from professional scouts next season. If they’re not interested, however, he plans to use the degree in economics he is on track to earn next year to make some headway in the non-sports world.

“I want to obtain money and hold onto it,” Draft said. “Many people say money does not buy happiness, but you can be happy doing the things you want to do. So I want to have money so I do not have to worry about money.

“One reason I came to Stanford was for the academics. But the biggest thing I’ve learned about college is [the importance of the] people you meet. There are so many connections you make. There are so many people I know now.”

On Tuesday he plans to get to know the Michigan State offense up close.

“The film we’ve seen says they are a typical Big Ten football team, meaning they will run, and pass only when they have to,” Draft said. “They’ll line up and say ‘Stop us.’

“The Wisconsin game [the only Big Ten opponent Stanford faced during the season] helped us realize what Big Ten football is about.

“I thought we played a good game against them [a 14-0 Cardinal loss; Michigan State beat Wisconsin, 30-13]. After that game we had the least number of bumps and bruises we had after any game, although they were very physical. We stepped up.”