Doak Walker Award: Ranking the top candidates

The Doak Walker Award rewards the top running back in the nation. Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus ranked the top candidates for the prestigious award.

Here are the top candidates for the Doak Walker Award, according to Pro Football Focus:

Tank Bigsby, Auburn: Gus Malzhan may not be returning to Auburn, but Tank Bigsby is ready to carry the load for the Tigers offense. Entering his first year as head coach, Bryan Harsin has a stud on offense in Bigsby.

Prior to an injury suffered against Tennessee, Pro Football Focus ranked Bigsby as the third-highest-graded ball carrier in the FBS. Now, Auburn enters a transformative period amidst Malzhan’s departure. Luckily, the former four-star recruit will lead them. Impressively, Bigsby finished as the fifth-most valuable first-year non-quarterback in the country, per PFF’s Wins Above Average (WAA).

He’s the favorite to take home the prestigious Doak Walker Award in 2021.

Doak Walker Award: Other Contenders

Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State: Electrifying. Versatile. Positionless. Deuce Vaughn was simply a weapon for Kansas State in 2020. As a true freshman in 2020, Vaughn led the Wildcats in rushing and receiving yards.

The duel-threat back may not have a Doak Walker yet, but he already has some hardware. Vaughn is the reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. Per Treash, only Vaughn and North Carolina’s Michael Carter earned grades above 85.0 as both a runner and receiver in 2020.

Vaughn has said he sees plenty of “room for improvement,” which should excite Kansas State fans and terrify everyone else. To demonstrate, his abilities were on full display in last season’s upset of Oklahoma. Vaughn tallied 164 total yards and caught four passes as his Wildcats shocked the world. Even with the focus on him in 2021, he’ll be must-see television.

Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma: There’s a good chance people are overlooking Kennedy Brooks entering the 2021 season. Per Treash, Brooks was the third-highest graded ball carrier in the FBS from 2018-2019.

After planting his flag firmly in the conversation among the elite running backs in the country, Brooks opted out in 2020. However, he’s returning with a vengeance. Brooks will be on a revenge tour.

With quarterback Spencer Rattler slinging the rock and head coach Lincoln Riley calling the shots, the Oklahoma running-back re-joins a potent Sooners offense. If Brooks can return to form, he could overtake Bigsby and Vaughn for the Doak Walker Award.