Running Back Jordan Howard Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List

Written By T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Howard Named to Doak Walker Watch List

Another member of the Indiana Hoosiers has been named to a preseason watch list. Jordan Howard joins Nate Sudfeld (Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy) and Dan Feeney (Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy) after being named a preseason candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award. The Doak Walker Award, which is presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum, is given annually to the nation’s top running back. Former Hoosier Tevin Coleman was a finalist for the 2014 award (Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon was the winner).

Expectations are high for Howard, a Gardendale, Alabama native that transferred to IU after two very successful seasons at UAB. Last season, Howard ran for 1,587 yards (a Blazers single-season record) with 13 touchdowns and a 5.2 average. He had eight 100-yard games and five games of more than 150 yards and he is expected to be the starting running back for the Hoosiers when they open the season on September 5.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November and a national selection committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists. The committee will then vote again and the winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 10.

Howard is joined on the watch list by IU opponents Leon Allen (WKU), Jordan Canzeri (Iowa), Ezekiel Elliott (OSU), Paul James (Rutgers) and Akeel Lynch (PSU).