LaDainian Tomlinson Named Doak Walker Award Candidate
8/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Among the field of candidates are University of Maryland senior LaMont Jordan, the nation's leading returning rusher with 3,227 career yards; TCU senior LaDainian Tomlinson, who was tops among Division I-A runners in 1999 with 1,850 yards; and University of Texas senior Hodges Mitchell (Dallas, Texas/Skyline HS), a 1999 Doak Walker Award semifinalist. Mitchell became the first back in UT history to rush for 1,000 yards and post 300 yards receiving in 1999. The first-team All-Big 12 backs 1,343 yards rank fourth on the UT all-time single-season rushing list.
"The pre-season candidates for the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix are the not only being recognized for their excellence on the field, but also for their achievements in the classroom and in the community," said Bob Beaudine, chair of the Southwestern Bell SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors. "We look forward to watching the progress of each of these outstanding student-athletes this fall."
The Southwestern Bell SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select eight semifinalists on November 8, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will ultimately vote on the winner in late November. The National Selection Committee consists of former All-Pro and All-America running backs, print and electronic media members and selected special representatives.
The winner of the 2000 Doak Walker Award Presented by Vectrix will be announced live on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 7, 2000. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, January 30, 2001. Former University of Wisconsin and running back Ron Dayne, the 11th overall selection by the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft, won the 1999 Doak Walker Award after becoming the NCAA's career rushing leader with 6,397 yards.
Texas' Ricky Williams claimed the honor in 1997 and 1998, becoming the first two-time winner of the award.
The complete list of 2000 candidates announced was:
Jonathan Adams, Jr., Arkansas State University
Dan Alexander, Sr., University of Nebraska
David Allen, Sr., Kansas State University
Damien Anderson, Sr., Northwestern University
Ladell Betts, Sr., University of Iowa
Deon Burnett, So., Washington State University
Cedric Cobbs, So., University of Arkansas
Avon Cobourne, So., Iowa State University
Tony Fisher, Jr., University of Notre Dame
Delvon Flowers, Sr., Arizona State University
Travis Henry, Sr., University of Tennessee
Joe Igber, So., University of California, Berkeley
James Jackson, Sr., University of Miami
Cortlen Johnson, Jr., University of Colorado
LaMont Jordan, Sr., University of Maryland
Montrell Lowe, So., Purdue University
Deuce McAllister, Jr., University of Mississippi
Scotty McKay, Sr., U.S. Air Force Academy
Travis Minor, Sr., Florida State University
Hodges Mitchell, Sr., University of Texas
Larry Ned, Sr., San Diego State University
Derrick Nix, So., Univ. of Southern Mississippi
Brandon Payne, So., University of Akron
Ray Robinson, Jr., North Carolina State Univ.
Robert Sanford, Sr., Western Michigan Univ.
Ken Simonton, Jr., Oregon State University
Chester Taylor, Sr., University of Toledo
Anthony Thomas, Sr., University of Michigan
LaDainian Tomlinson, Sr., TCU
Cedric Washington, Sr., Boston College
Avion Weaver, Sr., University of Hawaii
Deonce Whitaker, Sr., San Jose State University
Ja'Quay Wilburn, Sr., University of North Texas
Ricky Williams, Sr., Texas Tech University
Jamie Wilson, Sr., East Carolina University
