The PWC SMU Athletic Forum announced that Eastern Michigan University senior running back Breck Turner has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker award, per EMU Athletics. Turner joined the list of 71 college running backs and is one of six running backs from the MAC to be added to the list of candidates.
Turner played in 12 games and finished =with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his junior season. He also managed to gain 72 yards from nine receptions. Last season, he had a season-high of 51 yards in the win against Kent State.
The award is named after three-time All-American running back, Doak Walker from SMU. It is an award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing as well as performance on the field.
There will be three announcement dates for semifinalists, finalists then the recipient. In November, 10 semifinalists will be named by Board of Directors of the PWC SMU Athletic Forum. The remaining three finalists will be announced on Nov. 20th. The final voting will be done by the National Award Committee of the Doak Walker Award on Dec. 2.
The 30th recipient of this award will be announced live on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Other notable names on the watch list include Cam Akers (Florida State), J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State), Travis Etienne (Clemson), Najee Harris (Alabama), D'Andre Swift (Georgia) and Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin).
Taylor won the award last season. Bryce Love, out of Stanford, won the award the year prior.
Turner joined five other players from the MAC. The list includes Tre Harbison (Northern Illinois), Bryant Koback (Toledo), LaVante Bellamy (Western Michigan), Andrew Clair (Bowling Green) and Jaret Patterson (Buffalo).
Turner would be the first MAC player to win the award.
