DALLAS (SMU) – SMU junior Braeden West has been named a preseason candidate for the 2017 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.
 
West finished with 202 carries for 1,036 yards and six rushing touchdowns as the Mustangs' primary ball carrier in 2016. He added 15 catches for 92 yards to make him one of three players with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards (1,128). Overall, West posted six games with 100+ all-purpose yards.

The Katy, Texas, native had the fifth-most rushing yards in a single-game in program history with a career-high 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Liberty. His 1,036 rushing yards rank 14th at SMU in a single season.
 
West has previously been named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, and is a first-team All-AAC preseason selection by Athlon Sports and College Sports Madness.

The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American 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.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists on Nov. 15, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced Nov. 20. The recipient of the 2017 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 7, on ESPN.

The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-American running backs, media members and selected special representatives. 

2017 SMU Football Watch Lists/Preseason Honors

Evan Brown
Rimington Trophy Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Athlon Sports All-AAC First Team

Ben Hicks
Athlon Sports All-AAC Fourth Team

Justin Lawler
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AVCA Good Works Team
Athlon Sports All-AAC First Team
Bleacher Report: Top 25 Returning Seniors in College Football
CFN All-AAC Defense
CFN All-AAC Top 30: No. 5

Kyran Mitchell
Athlon Sports All-AAC Fourth Team

Courtland Sutton
Heisman Trophy Candidate
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
CFN First-Team All-American
Athlon Sports Second-Team All-American
Athlon Sports All-AAC First Team
Athlon Sports Group of 5 Wild Card Players
SI College Football Freaks: No. 18
SI College Football's Top 100 Players of 2017: No. 28
Dave Campbell's Texas Football 50 Most Important College Players in Texas: No. 11
College Football 24/7: Top 10 Wide Receivers to Watch in 2017 – No. 1
CFN All-AAC Offense
CFN All-AAC Top 30: No. 3

Braeden West
Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Athlon Sports All-AAC First Team

Jordan Wyatt
Athlon Sports All-AAC Second Team

For more information on the Doak Walker Award and a list of past recipients, visit http://www.smu.edu/DoakWalkerAward.
SMU opens the 2017 season on Sept. 2 against Stephen F. Austin at Ford Stadium. The Mustangs' home slate features seven games including 2016 bowl teams Tulsa, UCF, Arkansas State and North Texas. Also visiting the Hilltop will be American Athletic Conference foes Tulane and Connecticut. Season tickets are still available for as little as $99. For Mustang ticket information, call the Athletics Department Ticket Office at (214) SMU-GAME (768-4263).