Eastern Michigan Athletics
Darius Jackson Named A Candidate For Doak Walker Award
7/16/2015 10:30:00 AM | Football
Running back enters senior campaign looking for a breakout year
DALLAS, Texas (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior Darius Jackson (Sparta, Ill.-Sparta) has been named a preseason candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award which is presented annually to the nation's top college running back, according to an announcement by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Thursday, July 16.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Jackson appeared in all 12 games, making four starts in the backfield for the Eagles in 2014. He tallied 295 yards on the ground, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, as he shared the workload. Jackson rushed for a career-best 73 yards and one touchdown, while also catching five passes for 22 yards in the Eagles' season-opening victory over Morgan State (Aug. 30). He also caught 20 passes for 148 yards and a pair of scores throughout the season.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists on Nov. 18, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 24. The committee will cast a second vote beginning Nov. 30 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 2015 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 10, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas in early 2016.
The award, which will name its 26th recipient in 2015, 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.
Jackson and the rest of the Eagles will hit the gridiron for the first time in the 2015 season with a home opener against Old Dominion University Saturday, Sept. 5, inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium. Season tickets are now on sale for the six-game home slate, which includes four contests against MAC foes. Tickets can be purchased at EMUTix.com or by calling 734.487.2282.
2015 EMU FOOTBALL INDIVIDUAL PRESEASON HONORS (As of Thursday, July 16)
Darius Jackson, Senior, Running back
Doak Walker Award candidate
Jake Hurcombe, Redshirt-Junior, Offensive Line
Rimington Trophy Fall Watch List
Pat O'Connor, Senior, Defensive Line
Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC - first team
Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC - first team
Great Ibe, Senior, Linebacker
Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC - first team
Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC - first team
Dylan Mulder, Senior, Kicker
Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC - fourth team
Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC - fourth team
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