DALLAS – Four Mountain West players are among the preseason candidates for the 2025 Doak Walker Award, as announced today by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.
Boise State’s Sire Gaines, Colorado State’s Justin Marshall, Fresno State’s Bryson Donelson and UNLV’s Jai’Den Thomas represent the MW on the preseason watch list.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November. Three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, 2025.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week. University athletic departments nominate candidates for the award and can continue to do so through October.
Last year’s Doak Walker Award winner was Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards, the second-most in a season in FBS history, and would go on to be drafted No. 6 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Doak Walker Award Watch List (MW representatives)
Sire Gaines, R-Fr., Boise State
Justin Marshall, So., Colorado State
Bryson Donelson, So., Fresno State
Jai’Den Thomas, Jr., UNLV