After winning the Doak Walker Award last year, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon has been named a nominee for the 2024 trophy.
The Doak Walker Award is given annually to the nation’s best college football running back. The award is named after former SMU running back Doak Walker, who won the 1948 Heisman Trophy and was a three-time All-American.
Gordon, a product of Euless Trinity, led the nation in rushing last year with 1,614 rushing yards. He enters 2024 with a chance to join Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Texas’ Ricky Williams as the only two-time winners.
Gordon was joined by players from other area colleges, including Tahj Brooks of Texas Tech, CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue of Texas, Jaylan Knighton of SMU and Gavin Sawchuk of Oklahoma.
Shortly after being added to the list, Baxter suffered a knee injury that will keep him out for the entire 2024 season. Since he was the Longhorns’ expected starter, it looks like Blue will see more touches next season. Last season, he rushed for 398 yards in a few appearances, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Brooks, who ran for 1,560 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, is chasing Texas Tech’s all-time rushing record this season.
In his freshman season at SMU last year, Knighton rushed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns, a career high. He is expected to be the starter this year in SMU’s first season in the ACC.
Sawchuk is looking to build on his successful first season after running for 744 yards and nine touchdowns last year.
The full Doak Walker Award watchlist can be found below.
Kaytron Allen, Penn State
LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
Mario Anderson, Memphis
Kevorian Barnes, UTSA
CJ Baxter, Texas
Lee Beebe Jr., UAB
Ulysses Bentley IV, Ole Miss
Jaydon Blue, Texas
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech
Antario Brown, NIU
Jalen Buckley, West Michigan
Ryan Butler, Stanford
CJ Campbell Jr., Florida Atlantic
Marcus Carroll, Missouri
Nathan Carter, Michigan State
Donald Chaney, Louisville
Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Dean Connors, Rice
Quinton Cooley, Liberty
Marquez Cooper, San Diego State
Marquis Crosby, Louisiana Tech
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona
Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State
Sean Dollar, Nevada
CJ Donaldson Jr., West Virginia
Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Rahsul Faison, State of Utah
Kaden Feagin, Illinois
DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Rodney Hammond Jr., Pitt
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
TJ Harden, UCLA
Rahjai Harris, Eastern Carolina
RJ Harvey, UCF
Judge Haynes, Alabama
Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech
Roman Hemby, Maryland
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Daniel Hishaw Jr., Kansas
Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
Jordan James, Oregon
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Jaylan Knighton, SMU
Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame
Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
Phil Mafah, Clemson
Woody Marks, USC
LJ Martin, BYU
Damien Martinez, Miami
Josh McCray, Illinois
Chez Mellusi, Wisconsin
Jam Miller, Alabama
Devin Mockobee, Purdue
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
Jaquez Moore, Duke
Devin Neal, Kansas
Nate Noel, Missouri
Cam Porter, Northwest
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Kanye Roberts, App State
Kye Robichaux, Boston College
Abu Sama III, Iowa State
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma
Malik Sherrod, Fresno State
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Darius Taylor, Minnesota
Alex Tecza, Marine
Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV
DeaMonte Trayanum, Kentucky
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Kayne Udoh, Army
Dre’lyn Washington, Louisiana
Jordan Waters, North Carolina State
Harrison Waylee, Wyoming
Jahiem White, West Virginia
Noah Whittington, Oregon
Leshon Williams, Iowa
Nay’Quan Wright, South Florida
Elijah Young, WKU
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