Doak Walker Award Watch List Features 15 Top College Running Backs Nationwide

The 2025 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list features a strong group of collegiate running backs from several top football programs. Notre Dame boasts three backs—Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Aneyas Williams—highlighting one of the deepest running back rooms nationally, with Love coming off a 1,125-yard, 17-touchdown season. Oklahoma’s Jaydn Ott, recovering from injury, is poised for a resurgence under new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle after leading the Pac-12 in rushing in 2023. Texas has two dynamic backs, CJ Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner, aiming to continue the program’s legacy of Doak Walker winners, with Baxter making a strong comeback from injury and Wisner entering his third season as a top SEC back. Louisville’s tandem of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, both impressive true freshmen, were named to the list, with Brown earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors and Watson leading the nation in yards per carry. Alabama’s senior Jam Miller also made the cut as the Crimson Tide’s leading returning rusher, hoping to join three previous Alabama winners of the award.