STANFORD, Calif. - Senior human biology major Bryce Love has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, as announced Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The award annually is presented to the nation's top college running back.
Love, last year's Doak Walker Award winner and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, paced Power 5 running backs in rushing yards, rushing yards/game, yards/carry and number of runs of 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. His 13 runs of 50 or more yards set an FBS record. He had 12 100-yard rushing performances.
The Wake Forest, North Carolina, native was Stanford's 10th unanimous All-America selection.
Love could be the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since Arkansas' Darren McFadden (2006-07).
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced Nov. 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning Nov. 26 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6 on ESPN.
The award, which will name its 29th recipient in 2018, 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.
Stanford begins the 2018 campaign on Aug. 31 against San Diego State. Kickoff at Stanford Stadium is set for 6 p.m. PT.
Preseason Honors
Doak Walker Award watch list
Bryce Love • Running Back
Bednarik Award watch list
Alijah Holder • Cornerback
Bobby Okereke • Linebacker
Maxwell Award watch list
K.J. Costello • Quarterback
Bryce Love • Running Back
Rimmington Trophy watch list
Jesse Burkett • Center
Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
Bobby Okereke • Linebacker
Dodd Trophy watch list
David Shaw • Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football
Sporting News Preseason All-America
First Team
Bryce Love • Running Back
Second Team
Nate Herbig • Offensive Line
Jake Bailey • Punter
Athlon Preseason All-America
First Team Offense
Bryce Love • Running Back
Second Team Offense
Nate Herbig • Offensive Line
Second Team Specialist
Jake Bailey • Punter
Third Team Offense
Kaden Smith • Tight End
Athlon Preseason All-Pac-12
First Team
Bryce Love • Running Back
JJ Arcega-Whiteside • Wide Receiver
Kaden Smith • Tight End
Nate Herbig • Offensive Line
Bobby Okereke • Linebacker
Cameron Scarlett • Kick Returner
Second Team
Walker Little • Offensive Line
Jet Toner • Kicker
Jake Bailey • Punter
Third Team
Jesse Burkett • Offensive Line
Fourth Team
Frank Buncom • Safety