All three Utah FBS colleges are represented on this year’s Doak Walker Award preseason watch list, released Thursday.
A pair of seniors — Utah’s Devontae Booker and BYU’s Jamaal Williams — and a sophomore — Utah State’s LaJuan Hunt — made the 69-player watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s top college running back.
Booker earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors last season in his first year with the Utes after transferring from American River College. He rushed for 1,512 yards, including a 5.2-yards-per-carry average, and 10 touchdowns while adding 43 receptions for 306 yards and two more scores.
The 5-foot-11, 212-pound senior was also named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which honors the college football player of the year.
Williams had his 2014 season shortened by injury. In seven games, he rushed for 518 yards and four touchdowns last year and has 2,526 career rushing yards at BYU. He needs 930 rushing yards to become the Cougars’ all-time leading rusher.
As a true freshman last year, Hunt led the Aggies with 540 yards and a touchdown on a 4.9-yards-per-carry average. His top game came against Hawaii, when he rushed for 145 yards.
This year’s Doak Walker Award field will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 18, then three finalists on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
BYU’s Luke Staley is the only Utah college back to win the Doak Walker when he did so in 2001.
Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd