The Sports Inquirer

Ten SEC running backs and xxxx ACC highlight the 53 players nationwide nominated for the Doak Walker Award, it was announced on Thursday.

Georgia junior Todd Gurley, a native of Tarboro, N.C., was an All-SEC Second Team selection last year despite playing in only 10 games because of injuries.  Gurley averaged 98.9 yards a game in 2013 after rushing for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns.  The versatile back was also third on the team with 37 catches for 441 yards receiving and a team-leading six touchdowns.  As a true freshman in 2012, Gurley piled up 1,385 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns and earned Freshman All-America honors.

Arkansas running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins were also named to the list. In 2013, Collins was named SEC Freshman of the Year, a Freshman All-American and to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He became the first freshman in SEC history to start his career with three straight 100-yard rushing games and the first true freshman in FBS since Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson in 2004. Collins became the second freshman in school history, 10th true freshman in SEC history and 68th true freshman in NCAA history to reach 1,000 rushing yards, finishing the season with 1,026 on 190 carries with four touchdowns. He added 63 yards on 11 receptions for a team-high 1,089 all-purpose yards.

Williams played in all 12 games last season, finishing with 150 rushes for 900 yards and four touchdowns. He added seven receptions for 72 yards and two scores. Williams was an honorable mention to the College Football News All-Sophomore team and was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List in 2013.

South Carolina junior Mike Davis, was a Doak Walker semifinalist a year ago when he rushed 203 times for 1,183 yards, the fourth-highest single season total in school history, with 11 touchdowns, while earning second-team All-SEC accolades, is also on the list.

Other SEC players on the list are Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon (Alabama), Kelvin Taylor (Florida), Trey Williams and Tra Carson (Texas A&M), Terrence Magee (LSU) and Josh Robinson (Mississippi State). ACC players on the list include James Connor (Pitt), Kevin Parks (Virginia) and Duke Johnson (Miami).

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name the semifinalists on November 18, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on November 24. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on December 1 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 2014 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 11, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas, Texas, in February 2015.