Northern Illinois University junior running back Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS), the Huskies’ leading returning rusher who has gained 1,227 career yards over the last two seasons, was named to the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday.
Brown, who was also named to the watch list prior to the 2022 season, ran for 689 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games while averaging 6.3 yards per carry last year. He led the Mid-American Conference and ranked 17th in the nation in yards per carry en route to honorable mention All-MAC honors. Brown gained a career high 160 yards on 16 attempts against Ohio on October 22 last season.
In 2021 Brown ran for 538 yards and five touchdowns across nine games. He ran for 105 yards on 12 carries versus Coastal Carolina in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl.
“Antario can be as good as he wants to be,” said NIU head coach Thomas Hammock. “There is no limit to his potential. He has to come out here every day, put the work in to be great and if he does that, he’ll be one of the top players in this league.”
Brown is among the 75 preseason candidates named by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. Only two other Mid-American Conference running backs, Ohio’s Sieh Bangura and Eastern Michigan’s Samson Evans were named to the list.
Presented annually to the nation’s top college running back, the Doak Walker Award is named for the three-time All-American running back Doak Walker who played at SMU. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists and three finalists in November, before casting a second vote in December to determine the recipient of the award.
Brown is the fourth Huskie to be named to a preseason watch list in 2023.
Wide receiver/kick returner Trayvon Rudolph earned a spot on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List for the most versatile players in college football. Junior defensive tackle Devonte O’Malley (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen) was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. The Nagurski Trophy is presented to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player. Senior offensive tackle Nolan Potter (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) was selected for the Outland Trophy watch list, an award presented to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman by the FWAA.
Season, single game and mini-plan tickets for the 2023 Huskie home games are all on sale now 24 hours a day, seven days a week online at NIUHuskies.com/myhuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets provide the best overall value at as little as $17 per game for general admission seating on the West Side of Huskie Stadium ($102 total). Sit in the same reserved seat for all six games for just $144 (sections A, B, F) or $162 (sections C, D, E). With the addition of the new Homecoming + One option, there are three “Pick Your Pack” mini-plans available, including Saturday Only and MACtion+Saturday four-game plans. See all the ticket prices and options, including premium experiences, here.
For complete coverage of the Huskies this preseason, go to 2023 Preseason Football Camp Central on NIUHuskies.com.