Alabama Football’s Damien Harris Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
Alabama football’s Damien Harris has been named to the 2018 Doak Walker Award Watch List announced today by the SMU Athletic Forum.
Harris is among 62 running backs from around the country named to the preseason list. Heisman Trophy winner and record-setting running back Derrick Henry was the most recently winner for the Crimson Tide in 2015 while Trent Richardson was the first Alabama student-athlete to take home the award in 2011.
The Tide’s top running back in each of the last two seasons, Harris has recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns and ranks No. 16 all-time at UA with 2,194 career yards. The Richmond, Ky., native has averaged 7.2 yards per carry in his last 281 rushing attempts, dating to the start of the 2016 season.
The Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to recognize the nation’s premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. Candidates must be in good academic standing and on schedule to receive their degree. The award is named in honor of 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. The 2018 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.