Nov. 18, 2005
DALLAS – The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors announced today the ten semifinalists for the 2005 Doak Walker Award. University of New Mexico senior DonTrell Moore, a three-time watch list selection for the award, was named a semifinalist for the first time. Please visit ESPN.com keyword Doak Walker to participate in the fan poll beginning at 10 a.m. Mountain time today. The results of the ESPN.com poll will count as one official vote towards determining the recipient of the 2005 Doak Walker Award.
The semifinalists (in alphabetical order) are:Reggie Bush (Jr.) USC
Brian Calhoun (Jr.) Wisconsin
Maurice Drew (Jr.) UCLA
Jerome Harrison (Sr.) Washington State
Kenny Irons (Jr.) Auburn
Laurence Maroney (Jr.) Minnesota
DonTrell Moore (Sr.) New Mexico
LenDale White (Jr.) USC
DeAngelo Williams (Sr.) Memphis
Albert Young (So.) Iowa
One of the premier running backs in the nation over the past four year, Moore has firmly established himself as the most productive rusher in New Mexico and Mountain West Conference history. The Roswell, N.M. native is the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards or more four times in a career and needs 170 yards to become just the 12th player with 5,000 yards rushing in a career. He is currently No. 2 among active career rushing leaders and 21st all-time with 4,830 and tops the active list with 50 career rushing touchdowns.
Moore has overcome his most challenging season in 2005, returning to his All-America form a little over eight months after he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the first quarter of the Lobos’ Emerald Bowl game vs. Navy (Dec. 30, 2004). He has erased all doubts about his health and is enjoying a career year with 1,155 rushing (115.5/game) and 1,520 all-purpose yards (152.0/game). Moore has scored 16 touchdowns, including 13 rushing.
Moore will play his final home game on Saturday against Air Force as the 6-4 Lobos look to secure their spot in a bowl bowl game for the fourth straight year. Kick off is set for 12:30 p.m.
“There are so many outstanding performers at the running back position this year. These ten players have been impressive to watch, and I look forward to an exciting finish to the season,” said Tony Dorsett, NFL Hall of Famer and member of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee.
The 153 members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes over the next week to determine the 2005 finalists. On Wednesday, November 23, three finalists will be named, and a second vote will determine the recipient. The recipient of the 2005 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 8. The award will be presented at the 2005 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Monday, February 27, 2006. Jim Swink, former TCU star running back, was named the recipient of the 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award and will also be honored at the banquet.