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LOGAN — Utah State senior Joe Hill was one of 53 players named to the Doak Walker award watch list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday.
Hill was also a nominee in 2013 as a junior, when he played in only five games (all starts) before suffering a season-ending knee injury. BYU’s Jamaal Williams was also named to the watch list, along with Mountain West Conference running backs Jay Ajayi of Boise State and Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State.
The award is given annually to the nation’s premier running back for achievements on the field and in academics and citizenship. It is the only major college football award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on track to graduate within one year of the candidate’s academic classification.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Hill ran for 252 yards and one touchdown on 53 carries before his knee injury. He also caught 13 passes for 94 yards, including a career-high 114 all-purpose yards against rival Utah on Aug. 29.
Semifinalists for the award will be named Nov. 18, and the selection committee will trim the list to its finalists on Nov. 24.
The final Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards show, Dec. 11, on ESPN. Boston College’s Andre Williams won the award in 2013.
