The Doak Walker Award named Illinois running backs Reggie Love III and Josh McCray to its 2023 preseason watch list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday.
The Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the most outstanding running back in college football. Created in 1989, the award pays homage to Doak Walker, who won the 1948 Heisman Trophy and was a three-time All-American, and it honors student-athletes who excel on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community. The Doak Walker Award recipient is voted on by a national selection committee, which includes sports writers, television commentators, analysts, radio sports personalities, former All-Pro and All-America running backs, and past award winners.- Doak Walker Award website
- Last three winners: Bijan Robinson (Texas, 2022), Kenneth Walker III (Michigan State, 2021), Najee Harris (Alabama, 2020)
Notes
- Former Illinois running back Chase Brown was a Doak Walker Award finalist in 2022
- Illinois is one of 11 schools with multiple players listed (Colorado, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, and Wisconsin)
- Illinois is one of five Big Ten schools with multiple players listed (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin)
- Illinois head coach Bret Bielema coached 2012 Doalk Walker Award winner Montee Ball at Wisconsin.
Reggie Love III | Doak Walker Award
- 2022 Illinois' Coaches Appreciation Award winner for offense
- Played in all 13 games with one start at running back in 2022
- First career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State on Jan. 2
- 72 carries for 329 yards and two rushing touchdowns in 2022
- Four receptions for 16 yards in 2022
- Career highs in carries (12), receiving yards (7), and longest kick return (30) in theReliaQuest Bowl against Mississippi State on Jan. 2
- Scored first touchdown of his career against Wyoming on Aug. 27
- Scored first Big Ten touchdown of his career against Northwestern on Nov. 26
Josh McCray | Doak Walker Award
- 2023 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten third team
- Played in four games and redshirted the season in 2022
- 19 carries for 56 yards in 2022 despite missing nine games with an injury
- 112 carries for 549 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns as a freshman in 2021
- Ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per carry (4.9) in 2021
- 14th in the nation in rushing yards per carry among freshmen (4.9) in 2021
- 14th in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (49.9) in 2021
- Rushed for 142 yards at #7 Penn State in 2021, the most rushing yards ever by an Illini true freshman against a ranked opponent
- Rushed for a career-high 156 yards on a career-high 24 attempts against Purdue in 2021
- 156 rushing yards at Purdue were the fifth-most in a game by a true freshman in 2021 and the most by a true freshman in a road game in 2021
Illini On Watch Lists (As Of Aug. 9)
- Isaiah Adams (Outland)
- Reggie Love III (Doak Walker)
- Josh McCray (Doak Walker)
- Jer'Zhan Newton (Nagurski)
- Keith Randolph Jr. (Nagurski, Outland)
- Tip Reiman (Mackey)
- Isaiah Williams (Maxwell, Wuerffel)
