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Oklahoma star Adrian Peterson is among the semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top major college running back.

The eight were selected by the board of directors at Southern Methodist University, Walker's alma mater.

The names were announced Monday.

Peterson is also a likely contender for the Heisman Trophy. If he wins the Heisman, symbolic of the country's best player, he will be the first freshman ever to do so.

Others in contention for the Walker award are seniors Cedric Benson of Texas and J.J. Arrington of California, Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams of Auburn and juniors Reggie Bush of Southern California, Ryan Moats of Louisiana Tech and D'Angelo Williams of Memphis.

The finalists will be announced in Dallas Nov. 23


It sure will be nice when SMU has one of its own named to this list!

from The Daily Texan:

Texas running back Cedric Benson was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award Tuesday as anticipated.

But the inclusion of Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson came as a surprise.

Peterson, a freshman from Palestine, was not expected to be eligible for the award annually given to the nation's top running back. The award was previously limited to academic sophomores, juniors, seniors or fifth-year seniors.

However, after much deliberation, the Southern Methodist University Athletic Forum decided to amend its guidelines and allow freshmen to be considered for the award.

"That's fair," Texas head coach Mack Brown said. "If it is supposed to be the best running back in America, then it seems like to me, with freshmen being eligible, they could have changed it many years ago."

Peterson has rushed for 1,431 yards through 10 games and is seventh nationally in rushing.

A four-year starter, Benson currently ranks third nationally in rushing with nine 100-yard games and second in scoring. The senior tailback is sixth on the NCAA all-time rushing list with 5,305 yards.

"Cedric deserves to be in New York for the Heisman also," Brown said. "He is fun to be around and a great team player. He has been amazing, picking up a lot of yards when I didn't think he had many. We are really going to miss Cedric and Derrick Johnson. I hope people can enjoy these guys for the last two times that they are in a Texas uniform."

The other six semifinalists are senior J.J. Arrington (California), senior Ronnie Brown (Auburn), sophomore Reggie Bush (USC), junior Ryan Moats (Louisiana Tech), senior Carnell Williams (Auburn) and junior DeAngelo Williams (Memphis).

Members of the award's national selection committee cast their ballots this week. Three finalists will be named Nov. 23 and the recipient will be announced on ESPN's college football award show Dec. 9. The award will be presented in Dallas on Feb. 15, 2005.

Former Longhorn Ricky Williams won the award in both his junior and senior seasons.

Which of these candidates can out toke Ricky Williams. Shouldn't that be the test? Man what a flame-out he's been.