TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football sophomore running back Demario Richard has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday.
The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back. Richard is one of 15 sophomores and 12 Pac-12 representatives on the list.
Richard is the fourth Sun Devil under Head Coach Todd Graham to earn preseason recognition for the Walker Award, joining senior wide receiver D.J. Foster, who received the honor in 2013 and 2014, current Arizona Cardinals running back Marion Grice, who made the list in 2013, and current Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Cameron Marshall, a preseason candidate in 2011 and 2012.
Richard, who is from Palmdale, Calif., was a Scout Freshman All-American and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014 after he tallied 634 all-purpose yards, the third-highest mark on the team, and added eight touchdowns. His 487 rushing yards and 5.7 yards per carry both ranked second on the team, and his 156 receiving yards was the team’s fifth-highest total. He rushed for 116 yards on 14 carries in a win against Utah on Nov. 1, and he took home Sun Bowl MVP honors after he notched a career-high four touchdowns, including two rushing and two receiving, in a season-ending win against Duke on Dec. 27.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsWalker Award (nation’s most outstanding running back) – Demario Richard
Wuerffel Trophy(“College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service”)–Mike Bercovici
Butkus Award (nation’s most outstanding linebacker) – Antonio Longino
Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year) – Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone
Thorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) – Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (player of the year) – Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (college defensive player of the year) –Carrington
The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back. Richard is one of 15 sophomores and 12 Pac-12 representatives on the list.
Richard is the fourth Sun Devil under Head Coach Todd Graham to earn preseason recognition for the Walker Award, joining senior wide receiver D.J. Foster, who received the honor in 2013 and 2014, current Arizona Cardinals running back Marion Grice, who made the list in 2013, and current Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Cameron Marshall, a preseason candidate in 2011 and 2012.
Richard, who is from Palmdale, Calif., was a Scout Freshman All-American and an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2014 after he tallied 634 all-purpose yards, the third-highest mark on the team, and added eight touchdowns. His 487 rushing yards and 5.7 yards per carry both ranked second on the team, and his 156 receiving yards was the team’s fifth-highest total. He rushed for 116 yards on 14 carries in a win against Utah on Nov. 1, and he took home Sun Bowl MVP honors after he notched a career-high four touchdowns, including two rushing and two receiving, in a season-ending win against Duke on Dec. 27.
2015 Sun Devil Award Watch ListsWalker Award (nation’s most outstanding running back) – Demario Richard
Wuerffel Trophy(“College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service”)–Mike Bercovici
Butkus Award (nation’s most outstanding linebacker) – Antonio Longino
Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year) – Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone
Thorpe Award (nation’s most outstanding defensive back) – Simone
Outland Trophy (nation’s most outstanding interior lineman) – Nick Kelly, Christian Westerman
Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker) – Zane GonzalezRimington Trophy (nation's top center) - Kelly
Maxwell Award (player of the year) – Bercovici, D.J. Foster
Bednarik Award (college defensive player of the year) –Carrington
