Ollie Gordon Leads Four Big 12 RBs Named Doak Walker Award Semifinalists
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon has been named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding running back.
This news comes just one week after Gordon was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award for the National Collegiate Player of the Year.
Walker has been the best running back in the nation since conference play began and has consistently proven that as a three-time Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week and four-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week in 2023.
According to a press release from Oklahoma State, Gordon leads the FBS in nearly every major rushing category, including rushing yards (1,414), rushing yards per game (128.5), 200-yard rushing games (2), and carries of at least 20 yards (18), 30 yards (14), 40 yards (7) and 70 yards (2).
Gordon’s three-game stretch against Kansas, West Virginia and Cincinnati made home the only FBS player in the past 10 years with 250 scrimmage yards in three straight games, and his 282 rushing yards at West Virginia are the most for any FBS player in a game this season.
While Gordon is the runaway favorite to win the award, it is worth mentioning that he is joined by three other Big 12 running backs in the group of 10 semifinalists, with Texas’ Jonathan Brooks, Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks, and UCF’s RJ Harvey. The Big 12’s four semifinalists are the most of any conference, with six conferences total represented.
The winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 8. The formal presentation of the award will take place on the SMU campus at the annual banquet scheduled for February 16, 2024.
Gordon and the Cowboys will be back in action on Saturday against BYU, with a win likely sending them to the Big 12 Championship in Arlington (Tex.).
