Steve Slaton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Steve Slaton

Slaton with the Houston Texans in 2010
No. 20, 23
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1986-01-04) January 4, 1986 (age 39) Levittown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:	Conwell-Egan Catholic (Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania)
College:	West Virginia
NFL Draft:	2008 / Round: 3 / Pick: 89
Career history
Houston Texans (2008–2011) Miami Dolphins (2011) Toronto Argonauts (2014)
Career highlights and awards
Unanimous All-American (2006) First-team All-Big East (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 442 Rushing yards: 1,896 Rushing touchdowns: 18 Receptions: 100 Receiving yards: 808 Receiving touchdowns: 5
Player stats at PFR
Player stats at CFL.ca (archive)
College Football Hall of Fame

Steve Slaton (born January 4, 1986) is an American former professional football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Steve played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was recognized as an unanimous All-American in 2006. The Houston Texans picked him in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. Slaton also played for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL. Later, he joined the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2025.

Early Life and High School Sports

Steve Slaton was born in Yardley, Pennsylvania. He was one of six children. When he was very young, ear problems sometimes made it hard for him to hear.

Steve went to Immaculate Conception Elementary School. He was part of the track team there.

High School Football Success

Steve played football for Conwell-Egan Catholic High School. He joined the varsity team as a freshman. As a senior, he became team captain. He was named the most valuable player of the Philadelphia Catholic League. He was also chosen for the all-conference team for four years.

In his senior year, he ran for 1,836 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. He was a first-team all-state player in his junior and senior years. Overall, he rushed for over 6,000 career yards and 73 touchdowns. He set five school records.

Track and Field Star

Steve was also a talented track athlete in high school. He ran in many sprint races. In 2004, he had the sixth-best long jump among all high school athletes in the United States.

Steve chose to attend West Virginia for college. He had offers from other schools like North Carolina and Maryland.

College Football Career

Steve Slaton played for the West Virginia Mountaineers from 2005 to 2007. His coach was Rich Rodriguez.

Freshman Year Highlights (2005)

Steve started his first year as the fourth-string running back. He played his first game against Wofford. He later led his team with 90 rushing yards against #3 Virginia Tech. His first start was against Rutgers, where he rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown.

One of his most famous games was against Louisville. West Virginia was losing badly, but Steve helped them come back to win 46–44 in triple overtime. He finished that game with 188 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also scored his first receiving touchdown. His six touchdowns in one game set a record for West Virginia and the Big East conference. He was named a national player of the week.

Steve continued to play well, scoring many touchdowns. West Virginia finished the regular season with a 10-1 record. Steve ended his freshman year with 1,128 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Sugar Bowl MVP

West Virginia played against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2005 Sugar Bowl. Steve was named the Sugar Bowl MVP. He gained 204 yards and scored three touchdowns. His performance was so good that ESPN later ranked it as the fifth-best ever in a BCS bowl game.

Sophomore Season (2006)

Slaton during the 2006 season

Steve started his sophomore year strong with 203 rushing yards against Marshall. He continued to have many games with over 100 rushing yards. He gained 195 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland.

In a game against Pitt, Steve made history. He became the first Mountaineer to have over 100 rushing yards (215) and 100 receiving yards (130) in the same game. He also scored two rushing and two receiving touchdowns.

Steve finished the 2006 season with 1,744 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. This set a new West Virginia rushing record for a single season. His total yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving) were also a school record. He and quarterback Pat White combined for many yards and touchdowns, becoming a powerful duo.

Junior Season (2007)

In his junior year, Steve continued to shine. He rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns against Western Michigan. He also became the third Mountaineer to rush for over 3,000 career yards.

Against Maryland, he rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns. He tied the school record for career rushing touchdowns with 42. Later, he broke that record, becoming the school's all-time leading rusher with 43 touchdowns.

Steve and Pat White both rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second year in a row. This was a rare achievement in college football history. Their combined career yards and touchdowns made them one of the greatest duos in NCAA history.

Steve finished his junior season with 1,053 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He also had 25 catches for 348 receiving yards.

College Career Statistics

College Awards and Records

Steve received many awards and set several records during his college career:

• He was named national player of the week multiple times.
• He was a first-team freshman All-American.
• He was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2005.
• He was named the Sugar Bowl MVP in 2006.
• He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Athlon Sports magazines.
• He was a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award (best college player).
• He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award (best running back).
• He was a First Team All-American in 2006.
• He finished 4th in the 2006 Heisman Trophy race.
• He was named the Scout.com Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2006.
• He holds the WVU record for most touchdowns in a single game (6).
• He holds the WVU record for most rushing yards in a season (1,744).
• He holds the WVU record for most all-purpose yards in a season (2,104).
• He is first all-time in WVU history for rushing touchdowns (50).
• He is first all-time in WVU history for total touchdowns (55).
• He is second all-time in WVU history for 100-yard rushing games (21).
• He is third all-time in WVU history for rushing yards (3,923).
• He and Pat White were the third duo in FBS history to both rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Professional Football Career

Steve Slaton decided to leave college early and enter the 2008 NFL draft.

Joining the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans picked Steve in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He signed a contract with them in July.

In his first NFL game, he rushed for 43 yards. On September 21, 2008, he scored his first NFL touchdown. He rushed for 116 yards in that game, including a 50-yard run. After this great performance, his coach named him the starting running back.

Steve continued to impress. He rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts. He won the NFL Rookie of the Week Award for his play. He also set a Texans' rookie record for single-game rushing yards with 156 yards against the Colts. His 71-yard touchdown run was the longest in Texans' history at the time.

He went over 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season. He finished his first year with 1,282 rushing yards. This was the most among all rookie running backs in the NFL that year.

Later NFL Seasons

Steve started his second NFL season as the Texans' starter. He gained some weight to become stronger. However, he struggled with fumbles during some games. Due to injuries, he was placed on injured reserve in December 2009.

In September 2011, the Texans waived Steve. The Miami Dolphins then claimed him. He played three games for the Dolphins before being released in September 2012.

Playing in the CFL

Steve signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in April 2014. He played in 12 games that year. He recorded 510 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He also had 46 receptions for 388 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.

Steve Slaton retired from professional football in May 2015.

NFL Career Statistics

Source: NFL.com

Personal Life and Post-Football Career

Steve Slaton is married to his high school sweetheart, Kimberly Sierra. They have two sons. His favorite NFL player is Emmitt Smith.

After retiring from football, Steve went to culinary school. He worked for a chef in Houston, helping prepare healthy meals for several Houston Texans players.

Images for kids

• 

  Steve Slaton (left) and Pat White on the sideline of the Mississippi State game

See also

• List of NCAA Division I FBS running backs with at least 50 career rushing touchdowns
• List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders