Doak Walker Award announces 2024 preseason watchlist

The 2024 Doak Walker Award candidates were announced ahead of the college football season. The award is passed down to the nation’s best running back.

2023 winner Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State) is back and looking to become the third two-time recipient.

The list of candidates can be seen below.

Doak Walker Award 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

Doak Walker Award candidates (cont’d)

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

“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 release read.

“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.”

Doak Walker Award candidates (cont’d)

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