Ball State University Athletics
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James Gilbert Named Candidate For Doak Walker Award
July 20, 2017 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - The PwC SMU Athletic Forum selected Ball State junior running back James Gilbert as one of the 61 candidates for the 2017 Doak Walker Award. The honor has been presented to the nation's top running back for the last 28 years.
Gilbert (Indianapolis, Indiana/ Arsenal Tech) led the Mid-American Conference with 12 rushing touchdowns last season. He finished his sophomore year with 1,332 rushing yards, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player. Gilbert reached the 100-yard rushing mark seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive games in the middle of the season. He rushed for 264 yards at Buffalo on Oct. 15, marking the second highest total in the Ball State single game record book.Â
Gilbert was a 2016 All-MAC First Team and Ball State John Magnabosco Award (Team MVP) recipient last season. He is also a candidate on the 2017 Maxwell Award Watch List.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 15. Three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced November 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 26 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.
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The recipient of the 2017 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 7 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet is scheduled for February 16, 2018 in Dallas.
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The award, which will name its 28th recipient in 2017, 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.
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Gilbert (Indianapolis, Indiana/ Arsenal Tech) led the Mid-American Conference with 12 rushing touchdowns last season. He finished his sophomore year with 1,332 rushing yards, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player. Gilbert reached the 100-yard rushing mark seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive games in the middle of the season. He rushed for 264 yards at Buffalo on Oct. 15, marking the second highest total in the Ball State single game record book.Â
Gilbert was a 2016 All-MAC First Team and Ball State John Magnabosco Award (Team MVP) recipient last season. He is also a candidate on the 2017 Maxwell Award Watch List.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 15. Three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced November 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 26 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.
Â
The recipient of the 2017 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 7 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet is scheduled for February 16, 2018 in Dallas.
Â
The award, which will name its 28th recipient in 2017, 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.
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