by staff–18 Nov ’15
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday the 11 semifinalists for the 2015 Doak Walker Award. Among the 11 semifinalists is University of Wyoming sophomore running back Brian Hill. The Doak Walker award is presented annually to the nation’s premier college running back.
Hill, who currently ranks No. 4 in the nation in total rushing yards with 1,399 yards on the season, joins 10 of the nation’s other top running backs as semifinalists for this year’s honor. Hill is the only running back from a Group of Five school to be named asemifinalist for this year’s Doak Walker Award.
The other 2015 semifinalists are (listed alphabetically): Devontae Booker (Sr., Utah); Alex Collins (Jr., Arkansas); Dalvin Cook (So., Florida State), Ezekiel Elliott (Jr., Ohio State); Leonard Fournette (So., LSU); Royce Freeman (So., Oregon); Derrick Henry (Jr., Alabama); Shock Linwood (Jr., Baylor); Christian McCaffrey (So., Stanford); and C.J. Prosise (Sr., Notre Dame).
Hill is one of five sophomores and one of nine underclassmen vying for this year’s honor. The sophomore from Belleville, Ill., needs 57 more rushing yards to set a new University of Wyoming single-season rushing record. In addition to his 1,399 rushing yards in 2015, Hill also has 2,195 career rushing yards, which ranks him No. 6 all-time in school history as only a sophomore.
Members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes to determine the 2015 finalists. Three finalists for the award will be named Tuesday, Nov. 24. The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a second vote, which will determine the 2015 recipient. The 2015 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 10, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas on February 19, 2016.
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 Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. 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. The 2015 recipient will be the 26th in the history of the award.
The Doak Walker Award 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.
