Brashard Smith named Doak Walker Award semifinalist

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Smith Tabbed Doak Walker Award Semifinalist

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU running back Brashard Smith has been tabbed as a semifinalist for the prestigious Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board announced on Tuesday.

The Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to honor the nation's most outstanding collegiate running back. Named for the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner and three-time All-America selection from SMU, the Doak Walker Award recognizes a football player's outstanding performance on the field, as well as his achievements in the community and in the classroom.

Smith is amidst the best season of his career, having accumulated 1,026 yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns along with 203 yards receiving and two scores. He also has 243 yards returning kickoffs this year, making him the only player in the nation with 1,000+ rushing yards, 200+ receiving yards and 200+ return yards.

He is the 12th Mustang to eclipse 1,000 yards on the ground in a season, and he also ranked 12th for all-purpose yards in a season with 1,470.

The senior has six games with over 100 yards on the ground, doing so against Houston Christian, TCU, Florida State, Duke, Pitt and Boston College. He also has five games with multiple TDs on the ground, including a career-high three during the Mustangs' victory over TCU.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors chose the 10 semifinalists, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The recipient of the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12, 2024.

SMU is back in action on Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 when it faces Virginia in Charlottesville.