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BYU players continue to garner nation award watch list recognition, as running back Michael Alisa was Thursday named as a nominee for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's premier running back.
Alisa's on-field recognition comes only a couple of days after he was honored for his off-the-field work as a nominee to the All-State AFCA Good Works Team.
A linebacker during his 2008 freshman season, Alisa returned from his LDS mission and moved to the offensive backfield in 2011, emerging at mid-season to energize the Cougars' ground game.
Through five games last season, Alisa had recorded only two rushing yards on three carries, but burst onto the scene with a 16-carry, 91-yard effort versus San Jose State. Playing in only eight games as a primary ball carrier, Alisa accumulated 455 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the season, adding a receiving score as he caught five balls for 55 yards.
A 6'1", 213-pound junior, Alisa was a member of two state championship teams as a two-way player at Timpview High School.
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With Alisa's Doak Walker Award Nomination, BYU now has seven players on nine watch lists for awards sanction by the National College Football Awards Association:
BYU Football Players on Preseason Award Watch Lists
| Player | Award | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Alisa | Doak Walker Award | Nation's Premier Running Back |
| Braden Hansen | Outland Trophy | Most Outstanding Interior Lineman |
| Braden Hansen | Lombardi Award | College OL, DL or LB of the Year |
| Cody Hoffman | Biletnikoff Award | Most Outstanding Receiver |
| Uona Kaveinga | Butkus Award | Nation's Best Linebacker |
| Riley Nelson | Davey O'Brien Award | Nation's Best Quarterback |
| Riley Nelson | Maxwell Award | College Player of the Year |
| Brandon Ogletree | Lott IMPACT Trophy* | Defensive Player of the Year |
| Riley Stephenson | Ray Guy Award | Nation's Best Punter |
| Kyle Van Noy | Bronco Nagurski Trophy | Most Outstanding Defensive Player |
| Kyle Van Noy | Lombardi Award | College OL, DL or LB of the Year |
*Note: Lott IMPACT Trophy is not part of the National College Football Awards Association coalition, founded in 1997 "to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of college football's various awards."
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The final national award watch list will be released tomorrow, when the nominees for the Walter Camp Award (nation's most outstanding player) are announced. BYU QB Riley Nelson is a potential candidate, as he was already named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, a similar MVP honor.
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