Baylor’s Linwood Picked As Doak Walker Award Candidate
Junior running back on preseason list for second-straight year.
DALLAS - Baylor junior running back Shock Linwood was named a preseason candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday. The award is given annually to nation's top college running back.
Linwood played in all 13 games and started 12 as a sophomore in 2014. He was recognized as an All-Big 12 performer, after tallying 1,252 yards and 16 TDs on 251 rushes (5.0 per-carry average). He also had seven receptions for 90 yards on the season. Linwood set a new BU record for rushing yards by a sophomore with 1,252 and ranked 16th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 16 rushing TDs. The Linden, Texas, native has already been recognized on the Maxwell Award watch list and as a preseason All-Big 12 pick.
In total there are 69 running backs on the 2015 watch list, including five from the Big 12 Conference.
Last season, Linwood was honored on the preseason list as well, but two years ago Baylor was one of nine teams to have two players listed among the candidates as Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin both made the watch list.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name the 10 semifinalists on Nov. 18, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 24. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on Nov. 30 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2015 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas, Texas, in early 2016.
The award, in its 26th year, is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
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