Fresno State Athletics
For second straight season, Rivers revealed a Doak Walker Award candidate
7/15/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS – For the second consecutive season, Fresno State running back Ronnie Rivers will enter the fall as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award. The senior was announced on Wednesday to the preseason watch list that honors the nation's top college running back annually by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
The award, which will name its 31st recipient in 2020, 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 Doak Walker Award winner was Jonathan Taylor, of Wisconsin. It was his second-straight win, being the first back-to-back winner since Darren McFadden (Arkansas) in 2006-07.
A glance at Rivers:
Prior to back-to-back years on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list for Rivers, the last Bulldog named to the annual 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. Rivers enters his senior season as the 14th-leading rusher in program history with 2,122 yards.
PwC SMU Athletic Forum
Honoring the legends of sports for 31 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 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 in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The following is the entire 2020 preseason watch list calendar:
Monday, July 13: Bednarik Award
Tuesday, July 14: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 15: Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 16: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 17: Mackey Award
Monday, July 20: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 21: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 22: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 23: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 24: Maxwell Award
"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.
The award, which will name its 31st recipient in 2020, 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 Doak Walker Award winner was Jonathan Taylor, of Wisconsin. It was his second-straight win, being the first back-to-back winner since Darren McFadden (Arkansas) in 2006-07.
A glance at Rivers:
- Returning All-Mountain West 2019 second team selection.
- Led the MW in touchdowns scored with 16 in 2019.
- Scored at least one touchdown in every Mountain West game during 2019 season.
- Owned four 100-yard rushing games, including a season-best 177 rushing yards in the Bulldogs' season finale at San Jose State on Nov. 30.
- Recorded 899 rushing yards on 177 attempts (5.1 per attempt).
- Ranked tied for fourth in the Mountain West for most explosive run plays (20 yards-plus) with eight.
Prior to back-to-back years on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list for Rivers, the last Bulldog named to the annual 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. Rivers enters his senior season as the 14th-leading rusher in program history with 2,122 yards.
PwC SMU Athletic Forum
Honoring the legends of sports for 31 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 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 in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
The following is the entire 2020 preseason watch list calendar:
Monday, July 13: Bednarik Award
Tuesday, July 14: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 15: Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 16: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 17: Mackey Award
Monday, July 20: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 21: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 22: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 23: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 24: Maxwell Award
"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.
Players Mentioned
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