Miller Named to Doak Walker Preseason Watch List
July 15, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller has been added to the 2011 preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the top running back in college football by the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Southern Methodist University (SMU) Athletic Forum.
Miller is one of just five backs from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) included on the 51-player list. Just six other sophomores, alongside Miller, were given the preseason nod.
During his 2010 rookie campaign, the Miami native led the team in both rushing touchdowns (six) and in yards per carry among backs with 10 or more carries (6.0). His 163 yards against Virginia Tech marked a season-high for the team, and he was twice named the ACC Rookie of the Week, following both the Florida A&M and Virginia Tech games.
Miller also stacked up well against his conference counterparts in 2010. His 58.7 yards per game ranked eighth in the ACC, while his 86.8 yards-per-game average against ACC schools was third best in the league.
Despite a bevy of talented running backs in Miami’s storied history, Miller would become not only the first Cane to ever receive the Doak Walker Award, but the first ACC player and the first player from a Florida university to be given the honor.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum’s Board of Directors will name the semifinalists on Nov. 11, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 21. The committee will cast a second vote to determine the recipient on Nov. 28. 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 Thurs., Dec. 8 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, in Feb. 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.
To check out Miller and the rest of the Hurricanes in action this fall call 1-800-Go-Canes for tickets or purchase online through HurricaneSports.com.
