Aug. 28, 2007
DALLAS – University of New Mexico junior Rodney Ferguson was announced today as a candidate for the 2007 Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back. Ferguson led the Mountain West Conference in rushing as a first year starter in 2006, finishing with 1,234 yards in 13 games (94.9 avg.). New Mexico opens the 2007 season in a nationally televised (CSTV) game at regional rival UTEP on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
The field of candidates for the Doak Walker Award includes 2006 recipient Arkansas junior Darren McFadden, as well as 2006 finalists Michigan senior Mike Hart and West Virginia junior Steve Slaton. Other candidates include Boise State senior Ian Johnson, who led the nation in touchdowns last season; and Rutgers junior Ray Rice who rushed for more yards than any returning player and set a Big East record with 1,794 yards in 2006. Ferguson and TCU junior Aaron Brown are the lone MWC players on the initial watch list.
The complete list of candidates, who were nominated by their universities, follows:
Tarrion Adams (Jr.), Tulsa
Reggie Arnold (So.), Arkansas State
Toney Baker (Jr.), NC State
Lance Ball (Sr.), Maryland
Yvenson Bernard (Sr.), Oregon State
Curtis Brinkley (Jr.), Syracuse
Aaron Brown (Jr.), TCU
Andre Brown (Jr.), NC State
Donald Brown (So.), Connecticut
Thomas Brown (Sr.), Georgia
Kenny Cattouse (Sr.), Troy
Hugh Charles (Sr.), Colorado
Jamaal Charles (Sr.), Texas
James Davis (Jr.), Clemson
Calvin Dawson (Sr.), UL Monroe
Joseph Doss (Sr.), Memphis
Rodney Ferguson (Jr.), New Mexico
Damion Fletcher (So.), Southern Miss.
Justin Forsett (Sr.), California
Matt Forté (Sr.), Tulane
Mike Goodson (So.), Texas A&M
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Sr.), Mississippi
Mike Hart (Sr.), Michigan
P.J. Hill (So.), Wisconsin
Patrick Jackson (Jr.), Louisiana Tech
Javarris James (So.), Miami (FL)
Ian Johnson (Jr.), Boise State
Felix Jones (Jr.), Arkansas
Jorvorskie Lane (Jr.), Texas A&M
Rafael Little (Sr.), Kentucky
Marlon Lucky (Jr.), Nebraska
Kregg Lumpkin (Sr.), Georgia
Chris Markey (Sr.), UCLA
DeMyron Martin (Jr.), SMU
Darren McFadden (Jr.), Arkansas
Rashard Mendenhall (Jr.), Illinois
Jalen Parmele (Sr.), Toledo
Amir Pinnix (Sr.), Minnesota
Ray Rice (Jr.), Rutgers
Kory Sheets (Jr.), Purdue
Steve Slaton (Jr.), West Virginia
Kevin Smith (Jr.), Central Florida
Ontario Sneed (Jr.), Central Michigan
C.J. Spiller (So.), Clemson
Tyrell Sutton (Jr.), Northwestern
Courtney Tennial (Sr.), Tulsa
Marcus Thomas (Sr.), UTEP
Ryan Torain (Sr.), Arizona State
Chris Wells (So.), Ohio State
Shannon Woods (Jr.), Texas Tech
Albert Young (Sr.), Iowa State
The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on November 12, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists to be announced on November 19. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on November 26 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2007 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN along with other NCFAA member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 6. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at The Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, February 15, 2008.
The award, in its 18th year, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.