Celebrating Excellence: A Glimpse at College Football's Elite Running Backs
Virginia's Standout Talent: Peyton Lewis Joins the Ranks of Elite Running Backs
Peyton Lewis, a dynamic running back for the University of Virginia, has earned a coveted spot on the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. Following his transfer from the University of Tennessee in January, where he showcased his prowess over two seasons, Lewis brings a formidable track record to the Cavaliers. His impressive average of 4.7 yards per carry and a total of 10 touchdowns across 23 games underscore his impact on the field. Additionally, Athlon Sports recognized his potential by naming him a Fourth Team Preseason All-ACC selection, further solidifying his status as a player to watch.
Liberty Flames Feature Multiple Nominees on Prestigious Watch List
The Liberty Flames are well-represented on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list, with three of their star running backs making the cut. This recognition highlights the depth of talent within the Flames' offensive lineup and signals a promising season ahead for the team's ground game.
Virginia Tech's Leading Rusher: Marcellous Hawkins Earns Prestigious Nomination
Marcellous Hawkins, Virginia Tech's leading rusher from the 2025 season, has also been named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. His exceptional performance last year, which included 749 rushing yards and a touchdown on 118 carries, established him as a dominant force. Averaging 6.3 yards per carry, Hawkins delivered two impressive 100-yard rushing games, including a season-best 117 yards against Florida State. His ability to break tackles, forcing 44 missed tackles and gaining 562 yards after initial contact, as reported by Pro Football Focus, demonstrates his formidable skill set. Hailing from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Hawkins is not only one of the Hokies' most experienced offensive players for the upcoming season but also received a nomination for the 2026 Wuerffel Trophy, underscoring his character and community involvement.
The Rigorous Selection Process for the Doak Walker Award
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will meticulously evaluate candidates throughout the season. In November, ten semifinalists will be announced, followed by the selection of three finalists by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee. This committee, comprising past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media representatives, and special invitees, will conduct a second vote in December to determine the ultimate recipient. The highly anticipated announcement of the 2026 Doak Walker Award winner will take place live during The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10th. This prestigious award honors Doak Walker, SMU's legendary three-time All-America running back, and each Tuesday, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum will highlight a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week, celebrating weekly standout performances.
A Comprehensive List of Nominees for the Doak Walker Award
The complete preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award includes a diverse array of talented running backs from across the nation's collegiate football programs. This extensive list features players from various universities, showcasing the breadth of exceptional talent at the running back position. Among the notable nominees are Kedrick Reescano (Sr.) from Arizona, Sutton Smith (Sr.) from Arkansas, Kenyon Clay (Sr.) from Arkansas State, Godspower Nwawuihe (So.) from Army, Evan Dickens (Jr.) from Boston College, Adam Mohammed (Jr.) from California, Vaughn Blue (Jr.) from Central Michigan, Richard Young (Sr.) from Colorado, Mel Brown (Sr.) from Colorado State, Ashton Grey (Jr.) from East Carolina, Braydon Bennett (Sr.) from Eastern Michigan, Jadan Baugh (Jr.) from Florida, Leonard Farrow (Sr.) from Florida Atlantic, Ousmane Kromah (So.) and Quintrevion Wisner (Sr.) from Florida State, Justice Haynes (Sr.) and Malachi Hosley (Sr.) from Georgia Tech, Makhi Hughes (Sr.) from Houston, Ca'Lil Valentine (Jr.) from Illinois, Khobie Martin (So.) and Turbo Richard (Jr.) from Indiana, Kamari Moulton (Jr.) from Iowa, George Pettaway (Sr.) from James Madison, Dylan Edwards (Jr.) and Yasin Willis (Jr.) from Kansas, Kam Davis (Jr.), Peyton Jones (Sr.), and Kanye Udoh (Sr.) from Liberty, DeJuan Williams (So.) from Maryland, Manny Covey (Jr.) from Memphis, Mark Fletcher Jr. (Sr.) from Miami, Cam Edwards (Sr.) from Michigan State, Ahmad Hardy (Jr.) from Missouri, Herschel Turner (Jr.) from Nevada, Demon June (Fr.) from North Carolina, Jayden Scott (So.) from NC State, Jahiem White (Sr.) from North Texas, Telly Johnson Jr. (Jr.) from NIU, Bo Jackson (So.) from Ohio State, Caleb Hawkins (So.) from Oklahoma State, Devin Roche (Jr.) from Old Dominion, Kewan Lacy (Jr.) from Ole Miss, Jordon Davison (So.) from Oregon, AJ Newberry (Jr.) from Oregon State, Carson Hansen (Sr.) and James Peoples (Jr.) from Penn State, Fame Ijeboi (So.) from Purdue, Lucky Sutton (Sr.) from San Diego State, Jabari Bates (Sr.) from San Jose State, Kendrick Raphael (Sr.) from SMU, Matt Fuller (So.) from South Carolina, Raleek Brown (Sr.) and Hollywood Smothers (Jr.) from Texas, Cameron Dickey (Jr.) from Texas Tech, CJ Miller (Jr.) from Toledo, Duke Watson (Jr.) from UCF, Wayne Knight (Sr.) from UCLA, Peyton Lewis (Jr.) from Virginia, Marcellous Hawkins (Sr.) from Virginia Tech, Cam Cook (Sr.) from West Virginia, Ajay Allen (Sr.) from Western Kentucky, and Samuel Harris (So.) from Wyoming. This impressive roster sets the stage for a compelling season of college football as these athletes vie for one of the sport's most coveted individual honor
