Franklin named to Doak Walker Watch List

From UCLA:

Junior running back Johnathan Franklin has been named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Friday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back. This is the second preseason watch list honor for Franklin as he was also named to the Maxwell Award watch list last week. Franklin rushed for over 1000 yards last season and was also the team's top scorer, tallying eight touchdowns.

The field of 51 candidates is highlighted by the 2010 Doak Walker Award recipient, LaMichael James from Oregon. James, a junior from Texarkana, TX, led the nation in rushing and scoring last season. Ten semifinalists will be announced on November 11 and the recipient will be named live on ESPN on December 8.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name the semifinalists on November 11, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on November 21. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on November 28 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 2011 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 8 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, in February 2012.
The award, in its 22nd 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.