Oct 12, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Florida Gators running back Kelvin Taylor (21) against the LSU Tigers during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Florida 17-6. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014 preseason watch lists are dwindling down and the penultimate one comes in the form of the Doak Walker Award.
The award is given annually to the nation’s premier running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Florida’s Kelvin Taylor and UCF’s William Stanback make the watch list, while neither USF nor Florida State have any representatives on the 53-man release.
Last season, Taylor totalled 508 rushing yards on 111 carries while adding four touchdowns in 10 games, four of which he started. He also caught five passes for 37 yards.
However, he played sparingly in the first three games of the year, as 105 of his 111 carries came in the Gators final seven games.
He was named to the Freshmen All-SEC team by the league’s coaches.
Stanback carried the football 103 times for 443 yards and six touchdowns. He also made 15 catches for 186 yards and a score, plus returned 11 kick offs for 218 yards.
In the Knights Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win over the Baylor Bears, Stanback had 11 carries for 33 yards.
Upon seasons conclusion, he was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team.
Last seasons winner was Andre Williams of Boston College who had a whopping 2,177 yards on 355 carries while adding 18 touchdowns.