Drew Stanton
Quarterback, Detroit Lions
No. 5

Age: 24
Height/weight: 6-3/228
Throws: Right
Born: May 7, 1984 Lansing, Michigan
Resides: Michigan and Florida
College: Michigan State
Drafted: Second round (43rd overall) by Detroit, 2007
Career NFL stats: Did not play rookie season; injured.
2007 season: Spent on Injured Reserve recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Family: I have an older brother, Ben, who is married and an older sister, Brynne. I am very proud of my family and would do anything for them. I am engaged to be married on June 27, 2009 to Kristin Schrock.

PERSONAL

Wackiest prank in training camp:
Jon Kitna is a pretty big prankster. On April Fool’s Day he had Dan Orlovsky’s agent call Orlovsky and tell him he had been traded to Indianapolis. Dan was like, “What’s going on?” He had boxes to pack in front of his locker and everything. It was priceless.

Best DB I’ve faced:
In college I had to face Marlin Jackson (Colts) when we played against Michigan.

Best WR I’ve thrown to:
I haven’t seen many people like Calvin Johnson or Roy Williams (Lions). They are going to be tremendous this year. All signs point to them having breakout years.

Closest friends in football:
Ron Bellamy (WR), Brian Calhoun (RB), and Dan Orlovsky (QB) are guys I hang out with on the team. I play a lot of golf with Jon Kitna and Dominic Raiola.

Favorite foods:
Steak and lobster together.

Favorite movies:
“Good Will Hunting,” “Dumb and Dumber.”

What’s in your iPod?
A little bit of everything, it depends on my mood. I like country and rock, with of course some ’80s. My favorite artists/groups are Journey, Bon Jovi, Mat Kearney, Matt Nathanson, One Republic, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. I don’t listen to too much music before games, I don’t need extra motivation. I’ve got enough right before a game and I’m concentrating on the task at hand.

Favorite hangouts:
I don’t go that many places. There’s a bowling alley right up the road called Lucky Strike. Other than that I just hang out at home. I’ll have friends over, relax, or play Rock Band. We’ve got a good band going right now, we have a lot of fun with it.

Explain your nickname, “Rocky”:
That story gets played out a bit. When I was a kid I was riding a bike with my sister and my training wheels got jacked up. It was a gravel hill and I went over the handlebars, cut my head open and a rock went in there. The skin formed back over it by the time I got home so I still have a pebble stuck in my forehead. My friends started calling me “Rockhead” or “Rocky,” anything with “rock.” You can still see the scar and feel the rock.

Charitable endeavors:
I just got my organization, the High 5ive Foundation, up and running. The name came from the number I wear. My goal is to have five major fundraisers eventually. I’m heavily involved with the Special Olympics in Michigan and the Children’s Miracle Network. This is truly a passion for me, and I try to get involved in the community as much as possible.

My hero is:
My dad, Gaylord Stanton. He was the third Gaylord in his family and I’m glad he didn’t keep it going with me. I call him “Fokker” sometimes from the movie “Meet the Parents.” But, truthfully, he and my mother have done an unbelievable job raising me, my brother and my sister.