ShanDerrick Charles on Doak Walker Award list

[PonyPride]

UT's Benson, SMU's Charles among Doak Walker hopefuls
08/20/2002
By KEITH WHITMIRE / The Dallas Morning News

SMU sophomore ShanDerrick Charles and Texas sophomore Cedric Benson andare among the 42 preseason candidates announced Monday for the 2002 Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back.

Last season, Benson broke UT freshman records with 1,053 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while Charles set the SMU freshman record with 860 yards in just eight games.

Other Big 12 candidates on the watch list are Colorado's Chris Brown, Nebraska's Dahrran Diedrick and Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin. Arkansas' Fred Talley is also on the list.

Maryland's Bruce Perry, a 2001 Doak Walker finalist, is on the list as is Nevada's Chance Kretschmer, who led the nation in rushing last season.

The SMU Athletic Forum board of directors will select eight finalists on Nov. 19. before a national selection committee comprised of media members and former players will vote on the winner.

The winner will be announced Dec. 12 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet is Jan. 28, 2003, at The Fairmont Hotel.

Last year's winner was Luke Staley of BYU.

DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST
Marion Barber III, Soph., Minnesota
Cedric Benson, Soph., Texas
Chris Brown, Jr., Colorado
Dante Brown, Sr., Memphis
Kerry Carter, Sr., Stanford
ShanDerrick Charles, Soph., SMU
Avon Cobourne, Sr., West Virginia
Anthony Davis, Jr., Wisconsin
Dahrran Diedrick, Sr., Nebraska
Clarence Farmer, Jr., Arizona
Brock Forsey, Sr., Boise State
Ahmaad Galloway, Sr., Alabama
Earnest Graham, Sr., Florida
Aaron Greving, Sr., Iowa
Quentin Griffin, Sr., Oklahoma
Thomas Hammock, Sr., Northern Illinois
Joe Haro, Sr., UNLV
Antoineo Harris, Sr., Illinois
Dwone Hicks, Sr., Middle Tennessee
Joe Igber, Sr., California
Steven Jackson, Soph., Oregon State
Terrence Jackson, Jr., Central Michigan
Larry Johnson, Sr., Penn State
Greg Jones, Jr., Florida State
Chance Kretschmer, Soph., Nevada
Montrell Lowe, Sr., Purdue
Marcus Merriweather, Sr., Ball State
Mewelde Moore, Jr., Tulane
Cal Murray, Jr., Miami, Ohio
Derrick Nix, Sr., Southern Mississippi
Brandon Payne, Sr., Akron
Bruce Perry, Jr., Maryland
Artose Pinner, Sr., Kentucky
Andrew Pinnock, Sr., South Carolina
Cecil Sapp, Sr., Colorado State
Tanardo Sharps, Sr., Temple
Musa Smith, Jr., Georgia
Fred Talley, Jr., Arkansas
LaBrandon Toefield, Jr., LSU
Franklin Wallace, Jr., Marshall
Carnell Williams, Soph., Auburn
Tarence Williams, Sr. Wake Forest

[ShanDtheMan]

Great to see The Man on The List. Whether or not he ever wins the award, ShanDerrick will do SMU and Mr. Walker proud.