Doak Walker Award Explained

Doak Walker Award
Description:The nation's top college football running back
Presenter:SMU
Country:United States
Year:1990
Holder:Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State

The Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football in the United States. Established in 1990, it is named in honor of Doak Walker, a former running back who played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 to 1949 and in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1955. The player is selected by the award's National Selection Committee, which consists of notable sportswriters, television commentators, analysts, radio sports personalities and former All-America and NFL All-Pro football players.[1] Recipients receive a bronze sculpture of Doak Walker, designed by artist Blair Buswell.

Notable Accomplishments

Wisconsin running backs won four times in eight years from 2012 to 2019. Wisconsin and Texas are tied with the most wins with 5 apiece.

Ricky Williams (Texas – 1997, 1998), Darren McFadden (Arkansas – 2006, 2007) and Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin – 2018, 2019) are the only three players to win the award more than once.

Winners

Made at least one Pro Bowl during NFL career
Year Winner School Ref
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996 Texas Tech (2)
1997
1998 Texas (2)
1999 [2]
2000 [3]
2001
2002
2003
2004 Texas (3)
2005
2006 [4]
2007 Arkansas (2)
2008 [5]
2009 [6]
2010 [7]
2011 [8]
2012 Wisconsin (2) [9]
2013 [10]
2014 Wisconsin (3) [11]
2015 Alabama (2) [12]
2016 Texas (4)
2017 Stanford (2)
2018 Wisconsin (4) [13]
2019 Wisconsin (5)
2020 Alabama (3) [14]
2021
2022 Texas (5)
2023Ollie Gordon IIOklahoma State

References

General
Footnotes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Selection Committee - SMU.
  2. News: Dayne Wins Walker, Maxwell. July 24, 2021. CBS News. December 9, 1999.
  3. Web site: TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson Named Winner of the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix. July 24, 2021. Texas Christian University Athletics. December 9, 2000.
  4. News: December 7, 2007 . Tebow takes Maxwell, O'Brien; McFadden wins Walker . January 25, 2024 . ESPN.com.
  5. News: Rittenberg . Adam . December 11, 2008 . Iowa's Greene wins Doak Walker Award . January 25, 2024 . ESPN.com.
  6. News: Stanford's Toby Gerhart wins Doak Walker Award. December 13, 2016. The Mercury News. December 10, 2009.
  7. News: December 9, 2010 . Oregon RB LaMichael James wins Doak Walker Award . January 25, 2024 . San Diego Union-Tribune . Associated Press.
  8. News: December 8, 2011 . Alabama's Trent Richardson wins Doak Walker Award . January 25, 2024 . ESPN.com . Associated Press.
  9. News: Temple. Jesse. Wisconsin's Ball wins Doak Walker Award. December 13, 2016. Fox Sports. December 6, 2012.
  10. News: Hightower. Kyle. BC's Andre Williams Wins Doak Walker Award. December 13, 2016. Associated Press. December 12, 2013.
  11. News: Potrykus. Jeff. Melvin Gordon wins Doak Walker Award as top running back. December 13, 2016. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 11, 2014.
  12. Web site: Galloway . Jason . Badgers running back Jonathan Taylor becomes 4th Wisconsin player to win Doak Walker Award . 2018-12-07 . madison.com . en.
  13. Web site: Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor Wins 2019 Doak Walker Award as Nation's Best RB. Joseph. Zucker. December 12, 2019. Bleacher Report.
  14. Web site: Alabama RB Najee Harris Wins 2020 Doak Walker Award. Tyler. Martin. January 7, 2021. Sports Illustrated.