2016 Doak Walker Award Finalists Announced

DALLAS – The PwC SMU Athletic Forum today announced Dalvin Cook of Florida State, D’Onta Foreman of Texas and Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State as finalists for the 2016 Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee ranked the 10 semifinalists to determine the finalists.

The Committee will cast a second ballot after the completion of the regular season and conference championship games to determine the recipient of the 2016 Doak Walker Award. The recipient will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing from the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, December 8, at 7 p.m. (ET). The award will be presented at the 2016 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Saturday, February 18, 2017.

Cook, a junior from Miami, has rushed for 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. The 17 rushing TDs are fourth best in the NCAA among running backs. Cook was a semifinalist for the award a year ago and has logged two 200-yard games and two four-touchdown games in 2016.

Foreman, a junior from Texas City, leads the NCAA in total rushing yards (1,863) and rushing yards per game (186.3). Despite missing a game, Foreman is on track to become the 27th running back to rush for 2,000 yards with one regular season game remaining. He has at least 100 yards in every game this season, including a 341-yard output against Texas Tech on Nov. 5.

Pumphrey, a senior from Las Vegas, is second in the nation in total rushing yards with 1,855 and in rushing yards per game with 168.6. Pumphrey has scored 14 touchdowns this season, has eclipsed the 200-yard mark on four occasions and could also reach the 2,000-yard plateau in his team’s final game.

Florida State and San Diego State are seeking their first Doak Walker Award recipients, while UT’s Ricky Williams was the award’s recipient in 1997 and 1998 and Longhorn Cedric Benson claimed the honor in 2004.

In addition to outstanding performance on the field, candidates for the Doak Walker Award must have demonstrated records of leadership and exhibited the characteristics of sportsmanship and fair play associated with Doak Walker.

The award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. The versatile Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships and brought the school into the national spotlight. Walker was drafted by the Detroit Lions and as a rookie led the league in scoring. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All- Pro four times.  Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

###

Honoring the legends of sports for 27 years, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding success in athletics. Based in Dallas, the series features major figures from a variety of sports. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum includes four luncheons and the prestigious Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet.

The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast more than 700 years of tradition- selection excellence. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Home Depot College Football Awards air from the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience in downtown Atlanta. Live on ESPN on December 8, 2016, college football’s brightest stars will be honored for their performance on and off the field.