Steve Slaton

Steve Slaton

Steve Slaton on the sideline during the 2007 Mississippi State game
Houston Texans
Career information
College:	West Virginia
NFL draft:	2008 / round: 3 / pick: 89
Career history
Houston Texans (2008 - present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
2005 Freshman All-American 2005 Sugar Bowl MVP 2005 Big East Rookie of the Year 2006 All-Big East first team 2006 Doak Walker Award Finalist 2006 Consensus All-American 2006 Heisman 4th place 2007 All-Big East second team
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Steven Slaton (born January 4, 1986 in Levittown, Pennsylvania) is a running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.

Slaton finished his collegiate career in the top three in every rushing category at West Virginia University, also setting many season record and game records in school history and Big East Conference history. He was also the active career leader in career rushing touchdowns at the end of his collegiate career. He also earned consensus All-American honors in 2006, joining a small handful of West Virginia players to do so, and was a Doak Walker Award and Heisman Trophy finalist.

Slaton, along with teammate Pat White, were both front-runners for the 2007 Heisman Trophy and were the third duo in FBS history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons . Their three-year career together ended with 13,433 total yards and 106 total touchdowns combined. White and Slaton's 7,429 rushing yards together also edges out Maroney & Barber's and Bush & White's career totals.

Early life

Born into a family of six siblings, Steve Slaton is the son of Carl Slaton and Juanita Tiggett-Slaton. He grew up with a hard childhood. Up until first grade congestion in his ears rendered Slaton completely deaf at times. In fifth grade, Slaton's sister died of leukemia.

Playing for Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, Slaton made the varsity football team as a freshman. He was the most valuable player of the Philadelphia Catholic League and a four-year all-conference selection. As a senior, he rushed for 1,836 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was a first team all-state as a junior and senior. He rushed for more than 6,000 career yards and 73 touchdowns, setting five school records. Slaton was invited to, but did not participate in, the annual Big 33 Football Classic.

Slaton was also a track star in high school. His best times were 7.05 in Trials, 23-3.05 long jump (sixth-best in the U.S.), and then won the 60-yard dash in 7.07, the 200-yard dash in 23.17, and the 400-yard dash in 51.36.

Slaton received offers to go to college from North Carolina, Maryland and Rutgers, but chose West Virginia, but mainly as a defensive back. Slaton had originally chosen Maryland for his college, but they ended up passing a scholarship on him, instead going with Morgan Green.

West Virginia University

2005 season

Slaton began his true freshman year as the 4th string running back. He saw his first action in the second game of the season versus Wofford. He carried the ball 8 times for 42 yards and also had a 14-yard reception.

After not getting any carries the next two games, he led the team with 90 yards rushing on eleven carries against then #3 ranked Virginia Tech. Slaton got his first ever start of his career in the next game against Rutgers. Rushing for 139 yards and a touchdown, Slaton helped the Mountaineers to the 27-14 win.

Slaton had one of the most memorable games in WVU football history in the next game versus Louisville. After trailing 17-0 at Halftime, Slaton and the Mountaineers rallied from a 24-7 4th Quarter deficit to win the game 46-44 in 3 overtimes. After kicking an onside kick that led to the tying score, the Mountaineers headed into overtime with the Cardinals. Slaton finished the game with 188 yards on 31 carries and 5 rushing touchdowns. Slaton also had his first receiving touchdown of the season. His six touchdowns are a WVU and Big East record. He was named the Walter Camp, USA Today, and Rivals.com national player of the week and was also named the Big East player of the week. Slaton added 71 yards on 17 carries in a nationally televised Big East game with Connecticut, while his teammate Pat White upstaged him with 106 pass yards and a score and 63 rush yards and two rushing touchdowns. Slaton left the game early after an injury to his wrist.

Slaton's 17 rushing touchdowns on the season was tied for third most in a season in West Virginia history, while his 1,128 yards rushing is ranked 13th most rushing yards on a season in school history (a record he broke his sophomore season).

Slaton had another outstanding day against Cincinnati, gaining 129 yards on 25 carries and scoring 4 touchdowns. To begin the 2nd quarter, Slaton had a Walter Payton-like diving touchdown over a pile on the goaline, followed by two more touchdown runs. Slaton scored three more touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in the next game against Pitt. Slaton had 179 yards rushing on 34 carries as West Virginia beat Pitt, 45-13. In the final Big East game of the season, Slaton had 86 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown against the South Florida Bulls. West Virginia finished the regular season 10-1 and 7-0 in the Big East, earning the school a bid in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, while Slaton finished the season with 1,128 yards on 205 attempts with 17 touchdowns.

Slaton and White finished the season with 2,995 total yards and 24 touchdowns between the two players to begin their three-year career together.

Nokia Sugar Bowl

WVU defeated the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2006. Slaton was named the Sugar Bowl MVP, gaining a new Sugar Bowl record of 204 yards on 26 carries and scoring 3 touchdowns. His game was highlighted by a pair of 52-yard touchdown runs. Slaton's 204 yards were not only a Sugar Bowl record, but the second most rushing yards ever in a BCS game.

In a May 19, 2008, ranking, ESPN ranked Slaton's performance in the 2006 Sugar Bowl as the #5 best ever in a BCS bowl game.

2006 season

Slaton began the season in the same fashion he finished last season. He recorded his second straight 200-yard performance by putting up 203 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns against instate rival Marshall. Slaton saw very limited work in the second game of the season against Eastern Washington. Playing only the first two series of the game, Slaton was still able to break 100 yards rushing getting 105 yards on only 8 carries and scoring two touchdowns. He scored on a 49-yard touchdown run on WVU's second play from scrimmage.

In a very meaningful game of revenge, Slaton dazzled a national audience by gaining 149 yards in the 1st Quarter alone against Maryland. Slaton was recruited by Maryland, but his scholarship was eventually withdrawn. Slaton finished the game with 195 yards on 21 carries and added another two touchdowns. Slaton helped the highly ranked Mountaineers to their fourth win of the season by gaining 80 yards on 24 carries against the East Carolina Pirates.

The Mountaineers moved to 5-0 as Slaton had a very impressive day against a very good Mississippi State run defense.Slaton finished with 185 yards on 26 carries and scored his 7th touchdown of the season. In the first Big East game of the season, The Mountaineers used a dominating ground game to beat the Syracuse Orangemen 41-17 and remain undefeated. WVU had a total of 457 yards on the ground and 5 touchdowns. Slaton carried the ball 20 times for 163 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown run. On a Friday night game in front of a national audience against the Connecticut Huskies, Slaton carried the ball nineteen times for 128 yards, including a career high 56-yard touchdown run.

In the Big East game of the year vs. Louisville, Slaton was unable to repeat last years performance. After a great first half, Slaton had two costly fumbles on consecutive snaps to start the 3rd Quarter. Slaton sat out the rest of the 3rd because he was unable to grip the ball after taking a helmet to his elbow. He returned in the 4th to help WVU close the gap, but the defense was unable to come up with any stops and WVU lost the game, 44-34. Slaton finished the game with 156 yards on 18 carries and a 42-yard touchdown run. Slaton added another 74 yards on 3 receptions.

In the ninth game of the season, Slaton exploded for runs of 65 and 63 yards to help WVU bounce back and beat Cincinnati 42-24. Slaton finished the game with 148 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries. The highlight run of the game came in the 2nd quarter, when Slaton took a draw play around the right corner and outran the whole Cincinnati defense for a 65-yard touchdown run, his career-long. In the 99th meeting of the Backyard Brawl against Pitt, Slaton had one of the most impressive games in WVU history. Although getting off to a slow start in the first half running the ball (7 car., 6 yds.), he became the first Mountaineer to ever have more than 100 yards rushing (215) and 100 yards receiving (130) in the same game. The 215 yard performance, which was a career-high, came on 23 carries and his 130 yards receiving, another career-high, came on 6 first half receptions, including a 67-yard pass from White that led to West Virginia's first score of the game, off of a Slaton 15-yard run. Slaton added 4 more touchdowns, 2 receiving and 2 rushing. The following week, Slaton has his least productive game of his college career when South Florida held him to just 43 yards on 18 carries in a 24-19 loss.

In the final regular season game, in front of a national audience, Slaton helped lead the Mountaineers, without star quarterback Pat White, to a 41-39 triple overtime victory against Rutgers. Slaton gained 112 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns, including one in overtime. Jarrett Brown, White's replacement, had 244 yards passing with a touchdown and 73 yards rushing and a ground score.

Slaton finished the season with 1,744 yards on 248 carries with 16 touchdowns with a wrist injury all season. Slaton's 1,744 yards was third in the nation, while his average yards per run was ninth and his touchdown total was tied for 8th. His yardage was a West Virginia rushing record for a season, breaking Avon Cobourne's record of 1,710 yards, and was 22nd in West Virginia's record book of most total offense in a season. Slaton's 360 reception yards is the second most in a season by a running back in school history as well, behind legendary fullback Jim Braxton's 565 yards, while his 27 receptions was tied for third most by a back in a season. Slaton's all-purpose yards of 2,104 is a West Virginia season record as well.

In the season, Slaton and quarterback Pat White combined for 2,963 yards and 34 rushing touchdowns. They also combined for 4,978 total yards and 49 total touchdowns together on the season, the second-best output between the two in their three-year career together.

2007 season

Slaton missed spring practice due to connective surgery on his wrist. He took part in conditioning drills during the early summer after rehabing his wrist.

In the first game of the season against Western Michigan, Steve Slaton struggled rushing early as the Broncos keyed in on him, but was able to catch a 50 yard touchdown pass. Slaton only had 21 yards in the first half, allowing quarterback Patrick White to have a career-day. Slaton burst out in the second half however with a 58 yard touchdown score. Slaton ended with 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns and 61 receiving yards on 2 receptions and a touchdown as the Mountaineers won 62-24. In the second week of the season, after being held to just two yards on 5 carries in the first half, Slaton and his teammates came out strong in the second half to beat Marshall 48-23 in front of the largest crowd ever at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, in Huntington, West Virginia. Slaton finished the game with 146 yards on 24 carries and touchdown runs of 1-yard and 18-yards. In this game, Slaton became the third Mountaineer to surpass 3,000 rushing yards in his career.

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

In the third game of the season against Maryland, Slaton and the Mountaineers beat the Terps 31-14. Slaton finished the game with 26 carries for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Slaton's longest run was of 22 yards which was a touchdown. Slaton earned the Wrangler Player of the Game honors presented by ESPN. In the following game against ECU, Slaton tied the school record scoring his 42nd rushing touchdown of his career. Slaton finished the game with 18 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown along with three receptions for 42 yards as the Mountaineeers won 48-7. In the 5th game of the season, Slaton, for the 3rd year in a row, was held under 100 yards rushing by South Florida. Slaton finished the game with just 55 yards on 13 carries as WVU suffered their first loss of the season, 21-13. Against Syracuse, Slaton had 69 yards on 15 carries and 51 yards on 4 receptions in the 55-14 win. The following game against Mississippi State, which was homecoming for the Mountaineers, Slaton put up one of his best games of the season. While wearing his new golden uniform, Slaton rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries for one touchdown, also four catches for 36 yards and a kick return for 26 yards, as the Mountaineers rolled 38-13. Slaton's touchdown put him in the record books as the school's all-time leading scorer on the ground, passing Ira Rodgers and Avon Cobourne with 43 rushing touchdowns.

At #25 Rutgers, Slaton and the Mountaineers rolled over the Scarlet Knights 31-3. Slaton only had 16 carries for 73 yards, but did sport 3 touchdown rushes. Slaton's first touchdown came on a sideline-to-sideline 38-yard dash for the first score of the game. Slaton also had a reception for 51 yards on a screen pass and a 21 yard kick return. Against Louisville, Slaton had a less than impressive game with 17 carries for 60 yards, but he did have a touchdown in the 38-31 win. He also had two receptions for 14 yards. Former head coach Rich Rodriguez said of Slaton's performance, "Obviously, he didn't play his best game...Steve wasn't his best. He knows he can play better without the ball, and he usually doesn't fumble. He's got to get better in practice." At that point, Slaton had been held under 100 yards rushing for four of the previous five games. The next week however, in the 28-23 win against #22 Cincinnati, Slaton earned the gameball from ESPN after rushing 23 times for 108 yards and a touchdown, also while catching three passes for a team-high 48 yards. Slaton's rushing touchdown set a school record for most career points scored by non-kickers with 318 points in his career and his 151 all-purpose yards placed him second on the career school list with 4,690 yards.

Slaton and the Mountaineers clinched the 2007 Big East Championship with a 66-21 win over #20 Connecticut. Slaton had a sub-par performance, rushing for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns on ten carries and grabbing two receptions for 11 yards. His 54 rushing yards was only fifth on the team that day. However, he surpassed 1,000 yards on the season on a 31-yard touchdown run for the third straight year; and by him surpassing 1,000 yards on the season, Slaton and Patrick White both surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season, a feat that made them only the third pair in FBS history to ever do so. The next week however, the #2 Mountaineers fell to 5-7 Pitt in the Backyard Brawl 13-9 to end their National Championship hopes. In the loss, Slaton only carried the ball nine times for eleven yards.

While quarterback Patrick White was named to the Davey O'Brien Award semi-finalist list and kicker Pat McAfee was named to the Lou Groza Award semi-finalist list, Slaton failed to make the cut to the Doak Walker Award semi-finalist list, after being named runner-up the previous season. However, Slaton was named to second-team all-Big East, even though he was a first-team selection the previous season. He was also awarded the team's Coaches Contribution Award by former head coach Rich Rodriguez.

Slaton finished the regular season with 1,053 yards on 210 carries for a tying season-high 17 touchdowns. He also had 25 receptions for 348 yards and a touchdown. Slaton and quarterback Patrick White combined for 43 total touchdowns, more than 67 Division 1-A teams that season. They also combined for 5,460 total yards, the best output by the two in their three-year career together. Their three-year career together ended with 13,433 total yards and 106 total touchdowns combined, cementing themselves as one of the greatest duos in NCAA history.

In the 48-28 Fiesta Bowl under interim head coach Bill Stewart, Slaton left the game early in the first quarter with a leg injury after rushing one time for -2 yards and catching one pass for two yards.

Career statistics

WVU			Rushing						Receiving						Kickoff Returns						Defense
Season	Games		Att	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD		Rec	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD		Ret	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD		Solo	Assist	Tackle
2005	10		205	1,128	5.5	52	17		12	95	7.9	19	2		0	0	0.0	0	0		0	0	0
2006	13		248	1,744	7.0	65	16		27	360	13.3	67	2		0	0	0.0	0	0		2	0	2
2007	12		211	1,051	5.0	58	17		26	350	13.5	51	1		3	47	15.6	26	0		0	0	0
Total	35		644	3,923	5.8	65	52		65	805	11.5	67	5		2	47	23.5	26	0		2	0	2

Honors

2005

• Named Walter Camp, USA Today, Rivals.com national player of the week and the Big East player of the week for the October 15, 2005 game against Louisville.
• Named first-team freshman All-America by Rivals.com, second team The Sporting News, Collegefootballnews.com, Scout.com)
• Named as the Big East rookie of the year, the ECAC rookie of the year, and second team All-Big East his freshman season.
• Named 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl MVP after rushing for 204 yards on 26 carries and scoring 3 touchdowns in a 38-35 WVU victory.

2006

• Slaton, QB Pat White, and FB Owen Schmitt were featured on one of the 6 regional covers of the 8/21/06 issue of Sports Illustrated, as part of their "Big Men On Campus" article and their 2006-2007 college football season preview. Slaton was named West Virginia's "Big Man On Campus" in the same issue.
• Slaton and White were featured on the cover of an Athlon Sports 2006 magazine.
• Named Big East Player of the Week following the Marshall game on Sept. 2, 2006.
• Slaton was named as a semi-finalist for the 2006 Maxwell Award, which is presented to the Collegiate Player of the Year.
• Slaton was named as one of ten players to watch for the 2006 Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year.
• Slaton was named as a finalist for the 2006 Doak Walker Award.
• Slaton was named as a Football Writers of America All-American, an American Football Coaches Association All-American, a First Team AP All-American, a The Sporting News All-American, to the Scout.com First Team All-American and All-Big East Team, All Big East First Team, first team Walter Camp All-American, to the ECAC D-I All-Star team, and second team All-American by SI.com for the 2006 season.
• Slaton finished 4th in the 2006 Heisman Trophy race behind Troy Smith, Darren McFadden and Brady Quinn. Slaton finished with 6 1st place votes, 51 2nd place votes, and 94 3rd place votes for 214 total points.
• Finished tied for 4th in the AP Player of the Year in 2006.
• Slaton was named the 2006 Scout.com Big East Offensive Player of the Year.
• Named the Outstanding Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
• YouTube highlights of Slaton's 2006 season have garnered over 100,000 views.

2007

• Slaton was featured on the cover of a Sporting News Big East & ACC college football magazine.
• Slaton was featured on the cover of a July 10, 2007 USA Today Sports Weekly magazine.
• Slaton was featured on Sports Illustrated's College Football Preview edition before the 2007 season. At the conclusion of the season, SI.com rated his cover the #1 most popular cover of 2007.
• Slaton and Pat White were featured on the cover of a 2007 pre-season Athlon Sports magazine.
• Slaton was selected for the Playboy, Athlon, and Lindy's All-American team for the preseason.
• Slaton was a consensus preseason first-team all-Big East selection.
• SI.com named Slaton one of the most fun athletes to watch, comparing his running style to Walter Payton.
• Slaton started the 2007 season ranked #2 on ESPN's Heisman Watch list posted on August 13,2007.
• Slaton and teammate Pat White were named to the Maxwell Award watch list.

Records

Game

• Most touchdowns scored in a single game by a WVU player - 6 (Oct. 15, 2005 vs. Louisville)
• Tied with Willis McGahee with the most touchdowns and points scored by a Big East player - 6 TDs, 36 Pts (Oct. 15, 2005 vs. Louisville)
• Most rushing yards in a Sugar Bowl game - 204
• First Mountaineer to ever have 100 yards rushing (215) and 100 yards receiving (130) in the same game.
• Slaton and White became only the third tandem in NCAA D-I history to both rush for 200+ yards in the same game. - (Nov. 16, 2006 vs. Pittsburgh)
• Second most points scored in a single game by a WVU player - 36 (Oct. 15, 2005 vs. Louisville)

Season

• Most rushing yards in a season in WVU history - 1,744
• Most all purpose yards in a season in WVU history - 2,104
• Tied for most consecutive 100 yard rushing games in WVU history with six.
• Most rushing yards in Big East history by a true freshman (3rd most by any freshman) - 1,128 yards
• Ranks first (19) and third (18) for most touchdowns (rushing and receiving) in a season
• Ranks second in WVU history for most receiving yards by a running back - 360
• Ranks third for freshman rushing in WVU history - 1,128 yards
• Ranks third in WVU history for most receptions by a running back - 27
• Ranks fourth (17) and sixth (16) for most rushing touchdowns in a season.
• Finished fourth in rushing yards per game(134.15), second in all-purpose yards per game (161.85), thirds in rushing yards (1,744), ninth in yards per carry (7.0), eight in rushing touchdowns (16), and seventh in touchdowns scored (18) in the nation during the 2006 season.
• Ranks sixth in WVU history in rushing attempts in a season - 248
• Finished seventh in points scored (144), sixth in touchdowns scored (19), and sixth in rushing touchdowns (17) in the nation during the 2005 season.

Career

• Ranks first all-time in rushing touchdowns in WVU history - 48
• Ranks first all-time in total touchdowns in WVU history - 53
• Ranks first all-time in total points by a non-kicker in WVU history - 318
• Ranks second all-time in total 100-yard rushing games in WVU history - 21
• Ranks second all-time in all purpose yards in WVU history - 4,775
• Ranks second all-time in receiving yards by a running back in WVU history - 805
• Ranks second all-time in Big East history in total touchdowns - 53
• Ranks third all-time in rushing yards in WVU history - 3,923
• Ranks third all-time in rushing attempts in WVU history - 664
• Ranks third all-time in receptions by a running back in WVU history - 61
• Ranks third all-time in rushing yards in Big East history - 3,923
• Ranks third (tied) all-time in total 100-yard rushing games in Big East history - 21

Active Career Leader

at the end of his collegiate career

• Ranked first in most touchdowns in the nation - 50
• Ranked seventh in most career yards in the nation - 3,923
• Ranked seventh in most yards per game in the nation - 109
• Ranked eight in most yards per carry in the nation - 5.9
• Ranked tenth in most career carries in the nation - 664
• Ranked twelfth in most carries per game in the nation - 18.4

Professional career

Pre-NFL Draft

On January 13, 2008, Slaton announced he would forego his senior season at West Virginia and enter the 2008 NFL Draft. Slaton said the NFL advisory committee predicted him as a second-round selection. Slaton also said he was not able to contact former head coach Rich Rodriguez, but did talk to former offensive coordinator and running back's coach Calvin Magee. Carl Slaton, Steve's father, reported that "[his decision to leave] was pushed on him with [WVU coach Rich] Rodriguez leaving [for Michigan] and taking the whole coaching staff. [Rodriguez] just took everything away from Steven..." Slaton also said that if his assistant head coach and running backs coach Calvin Magee had stayed, even with Rodriguez leaving, that Slaton might have returned for his senior season.Steve was selected in the 3rd round by the Houston Texans.

On January 15, 2008, NFL Draft Countdown projected Slaton as the #11 running back in the class. The site also projected Slaton as the #89 prospect in the entire class and as a mid-round selection. He also received an invite to the NFL Combine. His 33.5 vertical jump was 11th best by a runningback. Slaton also worked out as a wide receiver in drills at the Combine.

Slaton has been compared to Tony Dorsett and Warrick Dunn. He was ranked the #8 running back by Marshall Faulk for NFL Network's coverage at the Scouting Combine. He was ranked the 10th best running back in the class by Scout.Inc.

Slaton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, regarding his decision to leave early and test the draft waters, "I think you have to remember that I played my freshman year, so I played three seasons in college, which means I've played as much football as most of these guys because not a lot of players get the opportunity to play as a freshman." He also said, "I know that I need to work on my pass protection the most, but I don't want to be just a third-down back, I'll try to be an every-down back...I think I have the right mentality to be here [in the draft] and to become a playmaker for whatever team picks me. That's what I intend on doing."

Slaton also reported that he met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans at the NFL Combine. Slaton told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer, Chuck Finder, in an interview that he did not run a 4.5 at the Combine and ran a 4.27 in Arizona after the Fiesta Bowl. He also said that the New York Jets, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons have scheduled private workouts with him. He then said that he planned to go to the University of Michigan to work out there with his former training coach, Mike Barwis. The Buffalo Bills also reportedly took interest in Slaton, along with Owen Schmitt.

West Virginia's Pro Day was March 13. At the Pro Day he ran a 4.45, despite weighing in at 199 lbs. He also ran a 2.51 20-yard dash and a 1.47 10-yard shuttle. In his 3-cone drill, Slaton ran a 6.74, a 4.27 short shuttle, and a 35" vertical jump. Slaton also impressed many scouts with his receiving abilities, highlighted with a one-handed grab behind him on a "go route". Slaton's 6.74 three-cone drill time and 1.47 10-yard shuttle time was one of the best by any draft prospect at their respective Pro Days.

In April, USA Today ranked Slaton the #11 running back in the class and projected him as a 3rd to 4th round selection. He was compared to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' runningback Michael Bennett and was reported as maxing with a 305-pound bench press and 600-pound safe squat. On April 17, Mel Kiper of ESPN predicted Slaton to be a third or fourth round selection. On April 23, Mike Mayock of ESPN said of Slaton, "The one thing Steve has going for him is the NFL pays a premium for speed, and Steve Slaton still flies. I have him going in the fourth round. I believe somebody is going to look at him and say he can return kicks. If you can find a way to get him the ball in space and use him selectively, he can be deadly."

Pre-draft measureables
Wt	40 yd	20 ss	3-cone	Vert	BP	20-yard dash
*197 lb	*4.45s	4.18	6.74	38	*19	2.51

(* represents NFL Combine)

NFL Draft

Slaton was selected in the third round (89th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Slaton was the first Mountaineer taken in the Draft and surprised many by being drafted in the third round despite being a fourth to sixth round prediction. He also holds the distinction of being the highest RB ever chosen by the Texans in the draft.ESPN said of the selection, "Slaton is undersized and he goes down far too easily. In addition, he has struggled to stay healthy during his career. However, he's quick enough to turn the corner and show good elusiveness in the open field." Houston offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, said of the selection, “I think he’s got a chance to be a special-type player...You look at guys around the league like Kevin Faulk, a guy like Reggie Bush, guys who come in and fill a specific role on third downs. If you look at the top offenses in the league, they all have a player like that. I think this guy fits that role for us.”

On April 28, the day after the Draft, ESPN ranked Slaton to Houston as the #10 "best marriages of talent, team needs", seeing as how Slaton's small size will not hurt him in the Texans' zone-blocking scheme that was similar to his college style. The report also noted that Kyle Shanahan, the offensive coordinator, had previously developed Warrick Dunn under the same offense in Atlanta. Pat Yasinskas, of ESPN, wrote of Slaton in the AFC South's Draft report, that Slaton could possibly turn into a Warrick Dunn-like player for Houston as a home-run threat.

Houston Texans

After the first week of the Texans' 2008 minicamp, running back coach Chick Harris said of Slaton, "He's going to be fine...He's got good speed on the outside, he's got the explosiveness. He has the skills, no question about it. This guy has been much too successful to not be good enough."

Personal

Slaton has a child, Julian Xavier Slaton, born on November 30, 2006. Slaton's favorite NFL player was Emmitt Smith, while his favorite musical artist is Jay-Z.

External links

• Houston Texans Player Profile
• Profile at ESPN.com
• MSNSportsNET Player Profile
• West Virginia Mountaineers profile at ESPN.com
• NCAA Stats
• Freshman Season Highlight Video