Rivers among candidates revealed for Doak Walker Award

DALLAS – Fresno State junior running back Ronnie Rivers was named a preseason candidate for the 2019 Doak Walker Award, announced Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's top college running back.

The award, which will name its 30th recipient in 2019, 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.

The 2019 list includes 71 running backs across FBS football – 17 sophomores, 32 juniors and 22 seniors.

For the complete list, visit www.smu.edu/DoakWalkerAward

A glance at Rivers:

Closed sophomore season as the MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl – posting the fourth-most all-purpose yards in school history with 286 (212 rush/41 punt return/33 receiving) in the Bulldogs' win over Arizona State on Dec. 15.
Recorded 108.4 all-purpose yards per game in 2018, ranking as the fourth-most in the Mountain West.
Averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a sophomore.
Rushed for 63 yards on 17 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Boise State in the 2018 Mountain West Championship on Dec. 1.
Appeared in 11 games after missing the first three games of the season. Made six starts coming off an injury prior to the season that occurred during the spring.

Flashback
The last Bulldog named to the Doak Walker Award preseason list was Marteze Waller in the summer of 2015. Waller concluded his Fresno State career as the fourth-leading rusher in school history with 3,108 yards.

PwC SMU Athletic Forum
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced on Nov. 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning Dec. 2 to determine the recipient. 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 recipient of the 2019 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12 on ESPN.

The following is the entire 2019 preseason watch list calendar:

Monday, July 15: Bednarik Award & Maxwell Award
Tuesday, July 16: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 17: Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 18: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 19: Mackey Award & Rimington Award
Monday, July 22: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 23: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 24: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 25: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 26: Walter Camp Award

The 2019 season kicks off in 45 days, grab your tickets today:

Season tickets, starting as low as $99 - link
4-game mini plan (Minnesota plus 3 games) - link
3-game mini plan - link
Group ticket discounts and tailgate space - link
$79 Bulldog Pass for faculty, staff and young alumni - link
Mad Duck 10-Pack - link
Minnesota single game tickets on sale now - link

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

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Rivers among candidates revealed for Doak Walker Award

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