Doak Walker Award names Wand to watch list

From ASU Sports
Chris Graddy, Assistant Director for Athletics Media Relations

JONESBORO – Arkansas State sophomore running back Warren Wand has been named to the 2016 Doak Walker Award Watch List, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.

Wand was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Newcomer team in 2015 after finishing second on the A-State roster with 709 yards. His total was the most by an A-State freshman since Lamont Zachary ran for 846 yards in 1996. He also finished the season by collecting 50 or more rushing yards in seven straight games and ran for a career-high 119 yards against Georgia State.

The Edmond, Okla., native was third on the team with five rushing touchdowns and was one of three Red Wolves’ running backs to average better than 6.0 yards per carry on the year. Wand also finished third on the team with 891 all-purpose yards, including 135 receiving yards. He recorded one of two A-State rushing touchdowns during the New Orleans Bowl and also led the team in rushing in the game.

Wand is the fifth Arkansas State player to be named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Jonathan Adams and Michael Gordon were each two-time nominees for the award, while Reggie Arnold was a three-time nominee. David Oku was also named the watch list in 2013.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 16, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on November 22. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 28 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 2016 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 8, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas in early 2017.

The award, which will name its 27th recipient in 2016, 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.

Arkansas State will kick off its season with a home game against Toledo on Friday, Sept. 2. Season tickets for the Red Wolves’ 2016 football campaign, which includes six home games, are available for purchase. Arkansas State has strung together 11 consecutive years with a winning home record dating back to 2005 and has won 26 of its last 30 games at Centennial Bank Stadium.