Chip Trayanum is a candidate for the Doak Walker Award

Kentucky will have a new starting tailback this season as redshirt senior Chip Trayanum looks to pick up where Ray Davis left off. What can fans expect from the Ohio State transfer? He’s good enough to be a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.

Trayanum, a 5-11, 227 lbs. Akron, Ohio native, enrolled at Kentucky in January after two seasons at Ohio State (2022-23) and two seasons at Arizona (2020-21). In 36 career games (23 at Ohio State, 13 at Arizona State), he has totaled 1,157 career rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, along with 15 receptions for 91 yards. He also played a little linebacker at Ohio State, totaling 14 tackles before switching back to running back.

Last year at Ohio State, Trayanum appeared in 12 games and was the Buckeyes’ second-leading rusher with 373 yards on 85 attempts (4.4 avg.) with three touchdowns. He caught nine passes for 53 yards and had one kickoff return for 14 yards. He graduated from Ohio State last year with a degree in education and human ecology and is currently working on an undergraduate certificate in business with hopes of graduating this December.

With a fresh start in Lexington, Trayanum is hoping to show off his versatility.

“I feel like I can do everything,” he said following Saturday’s practice. “I feel like I can be an all-purpose back. That’s my main goal out here while I’m at camp is showing that consistency every day with my coaches and building trust with my coaches and teammates.”

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Doak Walker Award Preseason 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
• 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
• 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 “Chip” 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

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. 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.