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The PwC SMU Athletic Forum has released the list of preseason candidates for the 2024 Doak Walker Award that is annually presented to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.
The list features 2023 Doak Walker Award recipient Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), who is seeking to become the third two-time recipient of the award (Melvin Gordon 2018-19 and Ricky Williams 1996-97). The list also features 2023 Award finalist Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and 2023 semifinalists Tajh Brooks (Texas Tech), Marcus Carroll (Missouri), R.J. Harvey (UCF), and Damien Martinez (Miami). University athletic departments nominate candidates for the award and can continue to do so through October.
2024 Preseason candidates:
Kaytron Allen (Jr.), Penn State
LeQuint Allen (Jr.), Syracuse
Mario Anderson (Sr.), Memphis
Kevorian Barnes (Jr.), UTSA
CJ Baxter (So.), Texas
Lee Beebe Jr. (So.), UAB
Ulysses Bentley IV (Sr.), Ole Miss
Jaydon Blue (Jr.), Texas
Tahj Brooks (Sr.), Texas Tech
Antario Brown (Sr.), NIU
Jalen Buckley (So.), Western Michigan
Ryan Butler (Jr.), Stanford
CJ Campbell Jr. (Jr.), Florida Atlantic
Marcus Carroll (Sr.), Missouri
Nathan Carter (Jr.), Michigan State
Donald Chaney (Jr.), Louisville
Demond Claiborne (Jr.), Wake Forest
Dean Connors (Jr.), Rice
Quinton Cooley (Sr.), Liberty
Marquez Cooper (Sr.), San Diego State
Marquis Crosby (So.), Louisiana Tech
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Sr.), Arizona
Ja'Quez Cross (Jr.), Arkansas State
Sean Dollars (Sr.), Nevada
CJ Donaldson Jr. (Jr.), West Virginia
Donovan Edwards (Sr.), Michigan
Trevor Etienne (Jr.), Georgia
Rahsul Faison (Sr.), Utah State
Kaden Feagin (So.), Illinois
DJ Giddens (Jr.), Kansas State
Ollie Gordon II (Jr.), Oklahoma State
Rodney Hammond Jr. (Sr.), Pitt
Omarion Hampton (Jr.), North Carolina
T.J. Harden (Jr.), UCLA
Rahjai Harris (Sr.), East Carolina
RJ Harvey (Sr.), UCF
Justice Haynes (So.), Alabama
Jamal Haynes (Jr.), Georgia Tech
Roman Hemby (Jr.), Maryland
TreVeyon Henderson (Sr.), Ohio State
Daniel Hishaw Jr. (Jr.), Kansas
Jarquez Hunter (Sr.), Auburn
Jordan James (Jr.), Oregon
Ashton Jeanty (Jr.), Boise State
Montrell Johnson Jr. (Sr.), Florida
Quinshon Judkins (Jr.), Ohio State
Jaylan Knighton (Grad.), SMU
Jeremiyah Love (So.), Notre Dame
Marion Lukes (Sr.), Central Michigan
Phil Mafah (Sr.), Clemson
Woody Marks (Sr.), USC
LJ Martin (So.), BYU
Damien Martinez (Jr.), Miami
Josh McCray (Jr.), Illinois
Chez Mellusi (Grad.), Wisconsin
Jam Miller (Jr.), Alabama
Devin Mockobee (Jr.), Purdue
Kyle Monangai (Sr.), Rutgers
Jaquez Moore (Sr.), Duke
Devin Neal (Sr.), Kansas
Nate Noel (Sr.), Missouri
Jaydn Ott (Jr.), Cal
Cam Porter (Grad.), Northwestern
Jadarian Price (So.), Notre Dame
Kanye Roberts (So.), App State
Kye Robichaux (Sr.), Boston College
Abu Sama III (So.), Iowa State
Dylan Sampson (Jr.), Tennessee
Raheim Sanders (Sr.), South Carolina
Gavin Sawchuk (So.), Oklahoma
Malik Sherrod (Sr.), Fresno State
Nicholas Singleton (Jr.), Penn State
Cam Skattebo (Sr.), Arizona State
Terion Stewart (Jr.), Bowling Green
Darius Taylor (So.), Minnesota
Alex Tecza (Jr.), Navy
Jai'Den Thomas (So.), UNLV
DeaMonte Trayanum (Sr.), Kentucky
Bhayshul Tuten (Sr.), Virginia Tech
Kayne Udoh (So.), Army
Dre'lyn Washington (Jr.), Louisiana
Jordan Waters (Grad.), N.C. State
Harrison Waylee (Sr.), Wyoming
Jahiem White (So.), West Virginia
Noah Whittington (Sr.), Oregon
Leshon Williams (Sr.), Iowa
Nay'Quan Wright (Grad.), South Florida
Elijah Young (Sr.), WKU
See the 2023 ESPN Home Depot Awards Show.
Past Winners:
2023 - Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
2022 - Bijan Robinson, Texas
2021 - Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
2020 - Najee Harris, Alabama
2019 - Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
2018 - Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
2017 - Bryce Love, Stanford
2016 - D'Onta Foreman, Texa
2015 - Derrick Henry, Alabama
2014 - Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
2013 - Andre Williams, Boston College
2012 - Montee Ball, Wisconsin
2011 - Trent Richardson, Alabama
2010 - LaMichael James, Oregon
2009 - Toby Gerhart, Stanford
2008 - Shonn Greene, Iowa
2007 - Darren McFadden, Arkansas
2006 - Darren McFadden, Arkansas
2005 - Reggie Bush, USC
2004 - Cedric Benson, Texas
2003 - Chris Perry, Michigan
2002 - Larry Johnson, Penn State
2001 - Luke Staley, BYU
2000 - LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU
1999 - Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
1998 - Ricky Williams, Texas
1997 - Ricky Williams, Texas
1996 - Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech
1995 - Eddie George, Ohio State
1994 - Rashaan Salaam, Colorado
1993 - Bam Morris, Texas Tech
1992 - Garrison Hearts, Georgia
1991 - Trevor Cobb, Rice
1990 - Greg Lewis, Washington
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12, 2024.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.
Honoring the legends of sports for 35 years, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding success in athletics. Based in Dallas, the series features major figures from a variety of sports. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum includes four events and the prestigious Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet.
The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association.
Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.