Northern Illinois University sophomore running backs Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa/Urbandale HS) and Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS) have been named preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award as announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors on Wednesday morning.
Waylee averaged 114.8 rushing yards per game in five games last season before an injury cut his year short. He rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown in NIU’s season-opening victory at Georgia Tech. Waylee followed that up with 179 yards and two scores against Wyoming. With 574 yards in five games, Waylee was still second on the team in rushing yards.
Brown was third on the team in rushing in 2021, rushing for 538 yards and averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries in the Huskies’ win over Eastern Michigan. Brown also ran for over 100 yards and a touchdown against Coastal Carolina in the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl.
“We’re certainly excited about the backfield we have coming back this season,” said head coach Thomas Hammock. “Harrison Waylee and Antario Brown have put themselves in the conversation to be noticed nationally. I’m excited for them to be among these candidates. This intensifies the competition between them, as well as our deep group at that position, and I expect them both to do big things heading into camp and the upcoming season.”
The NIU duo are two of 73 running backs from across the country to be preseason Doak Walker candidates. There are five Mid-American Conference running backs on the list with Central Michigan’s Lew Nicholls III, Eastern Michigan’s Samson Evans and Sean Tyler of Western Michigan joining Waylee and Brown.
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, then cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.
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