It’s 16 down, one to go. Hang in there. Our long national watch list nightmare is nearing a merciful end.
The Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s top running back, released its watch list Friday, with 52 candidates comprising this year’s preseason grouping.
Unlike the previous 15 watch lists that were announced, however, last year’s winner will get a shot at repeating as Oregon’s LaMichael James, obviously, is among the four dozen-plus backs on the list. Additionally, 2010 semifinalist Ed Wesley of TCU made the initial cut as well.
There are seven sophomores on the initial list, while Wisconsin (Montee Ball and James White), TCU (Matthew Tucker and Wesley) and Texas A&M (Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael) were the only schools with more than one player.
The SEC led all conference with eight selections, followed by the Big Ten, Mountain West and Pac-12 with seven apiece and Conference USA with six. Interestingly, the two A&M players were the only two from the Big 12.
The award has been handed out annually since 1990 and is named in honor of former SMU great Doak Walker. Ten semifinalists will be announced on November 11 and the recipient will be named on December 8.
Alvester Alexander (Jr.), Wyoming
Victor Anderson (Sr.), Louisville
Keola Antolin (Sr.), Arizona
Edwin Baker (Jr.), Michigan State
Montee Ball (Jr.), Wisconsin
Vick Ballard (Sr.), Mississippi State
Bryce Beall (Sr.), Houston
Duane Bennett (Sr.), Minnesota
Brandon Bolden (Sr.), Ole Miss
Rex Burkhead (Jr.), Nebraska
Asher Clark (Sr.), Air Force
Marcus Coker (So.), Iowa
Lennon Creer (Sr.), Louisiana Tech
Orleans Darkwa (So.), Tulane
Knile Davis (Jr.), Arkansas
Jeff Demps (Sr.), Florida
JJ Di Luigi (Sr.), BYU
Lance Dunbar (Sr.), North Texas
Michael Dyer (So.), Auburn
Andre Ellington (Jr.), Clemson
Jason Ford (Sr.), Illinois
Johnathan Franklin (Jr.), UCLA
Ray Graham (Jr.), Pittsburgh
Cyrus Gray (Sr.), Texas A&M
Montel Harris (Sr.), Boston College
Ronnie Hillman (So.), San Diego State
LaMichael James (Jr.), Oregon
Marcus Lattimore (So.), South Carolina
Zach Line (Jr.), SMU
Cameron Marshall (Jr.), Arizona State
Doug Martin (Sr.), Boise State
Sam McGuffie (Jr.), Rice
Davin Meggett (Sr.), Maryland
Christine Michael (Jr.), Texas A&M
Lamar Miller (So.), Miami
Alfred Morris (Sr.), Florida Atlantic
Isaiah Pead (Sr.), Cincinnati
Chris Polk (Jr.), Washington
Tauren Poole (Sr.), Tennessee
Bobby Rainey (Sr.), Western Kentucky
Trent Richardson (Jr.), Alabama
Pat Shed (Sr.), UAB
Rodney Stewart (Sr.), Colorado
Stepfan Taylor (Jr.), Stanford
Alexander Teich (Sr.), Navy
Adonis Thomas (Sr.), Toledo
Matthew Tucker (Jr.), TCU
Robert Turbin (Jr.), Utah State
Ed Wesley (Jr.), TCU
James White (So.), Wisconsin
David Wilson (Jr.), Virginia Tech
Cierre Wood (Jr.), Notre Dame
Trent Richardson wins it this year I think.
Willie Lyles will be hanging out with Cecil and Scam during the awards ceremony. Lache Seastrunk will press Lyles trousers in the hotel room.
Rodney Stewart is a sleeper. Colorado could surprise some people this year. They got some good transfers and a real coach. One that doesn’t start his 5’10” 180lb son at QB.