Louisville’s backfield thunder-and-lightning have officially landed on the national radar. Running backs Isaac Brown and Duke Watson have been named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, an annual honor given to the nation’s top college running back. With the announcement, Brown and Watson become two of just a handful of underclassmen to earn early consideration for one of college football’s most prestigious individual accolades.
Both players burst onto the scene as true freshmen, combining for a staggering 1,770 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Their production not only helped spark Louisville’s offense, but established the Cardinals as home to one of the country’s most dynamic running back tandems.
Brown piled up 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in his first collegiate season, collecting both the ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards in the process. The Miami native’s resume featured five 100-yard rushing performances, capped by a career-high 178 yards in a statement win over Kentucky to close the year. Brown broke the program’s freshman rushing record and became the first true freshman in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. He also garnered second team All-ACC honors and found himself on multiple freshman All-America lists.
Not to be outdone, Watson emerged as one of the nation’s most electrifying ball-carriers. The Forsyth, Georgia product posted 597 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and showcased big-play ability with an eye-popping 8.91 yards per carry – the best mark in the nation. Watson hit the century mark twice, establishing himself as a dangerous complement to Brown in the Cardinals’ backfield rotation.
The Doak Walker Award, named after legendary SMU running back Doak Walker, stands as the highest honor for the nation’s top rusher. Ten semifinalists will be announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum in November, with three finalists set to be unveiled later that month. The selection committee, a distinguished panel comprised of past award winners, NFL greats, media, and special representatives, will ultimately determine the winner, which will be announced December 12 on The Home Depot College Football Awards broadcast.
Louisville’s duo enters the fall set to build on a banner rookie year, already positioned among the nation’s best. Their inclusion on the Doak Walker Award watch list signals not only the Cardinals’ growing prominence at the national level, but the rising expectations as Brown and Watson prepare for another standout season.
