Toledo, Ohio — University of Toledo junior running back Bryant Koback has been named a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday. This is the second consecutive season that Koback is a nominee for the award, which annually recognizes the top running back in college football.

As a sophomore in 2019, Koback earned second-team All-MAC honors and ranked fourth in the MAC with 1,187 rushing yards. He became the 16th player in Toledo history to crack 1,000 rushing yards in a season and the 18th Rocket to crack 2,000 career rushing yards (2,104).

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November. Three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced later that same month. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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. The recipient of the 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.

The award, which will name its 31st recipient in 2020, 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.