OSU’s Gordon runs away with Doak Walker Award
Oklahoma State sophomore Ollie Gordon II is the first Cowboy running back to win the Doak Walker Award.
The 33rd presentation of the award to college football’s best running back took place Friday night, with Gordon earning the honor ahead of fellow finalists Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and Cody Schrader of Missouri.
Because of the uniqueness of some of his accomplishments this season, Gordon has on multiple occasions been mentioned in the same breath with OSU legend Barry Sanders, who sent a video of congratulations to Gordon for the ceremony.
“You had an awesome year and I’m really proud of the way you represented the Cowboys,” Sanders said. “Congratulations on winning the Doak Walker Award. It’s well-deserved.”
Gordon became the only OSU running back other than Sanders to rush for more than 270 yards in back-to-back games — and they’re the only two Cowboy players to rush for 270 yards twice in a career.
Likewise, they are the only OSU players to score five rushing touchdowns in a game, with Gordon accomplishing the feat in the regular-season finale against BYU, a 40-34 win in double-overtime.
“Honestly, it’s a blessing to be in the same conversation as him,” Gordon said in his ESPN interview after the award announcement. “Barry Sanders is a great guy, a great running back. Stillwater loves him, still loves him. For him to send that message, I really appreciate that.”
Gordon, a breakout star in his second college season, led the nation in rushing with 1,614 yards despite a slow start to the season that saw him get just 19 carries for 109 yards over the first three games.
“Staying committed, it was an easy thing,” Gordon said when asked about his limited involvement early in the season. “You gotta stay a team player, honestly. We were playing good as a team, so I didn’t care about the reps or anything, just being a team guy.
“Then whenever everything started clicking together for us, it got better and we were good.”
Gordon led Power Five players in allpurpose yards, adding 326 receiving yards on 37 catches with at least one reception in 12 of 13 games.
Gordon was the driving force in OSU’s rebound from early season struggles to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and earn a berth to the Texas Bowl, where the 20th-ranked Cowboys will face Texas A&M at 8 p.m. Dec. 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Comparing Doak Walker Award finalists
Here’s a look at each finalist:
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State: Gordon led the nation in rushing with 1,614 yards, is second in rushing touchdowns with 20 and leads Power Five players in all-purpose yards with 1,940. He also leads the nation in 100-yard games, 150-yard games, 200-yard games and 250-yard games, as well as carries of at least 30 yards and carries of at least 40 yards. And he was the key piece of OSU’s run to the Big 12 title game.
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: Finished fifth nationally with 1,442 rushing yards to go with 15 touchdowns. With the bowl game still to play, his rushing total is the third- best in UNC program history. He ended the regular season as the ACC leader in rushing attempts (234), yards (1,442), touchdowns (15), attempts per game (19.5) and yards per game (120.7).
Cody Schrader, Missouri: Schrader led the nation in rushing yards per game at 124.9, half a yard ahead of Gordon. Schrader also finished third in FBS and second among Power Five backs with 1,499 rushing yards and recently was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy, given to college football’s best player who began his career as a walk-on. He joined Gordon as a first-team selection to the CBS Sports All-America team announced earlier this week.
Doak Walker Award winner history
This is the 33rd time the Doak Walker Award will be given out to the nation’s top running back, the first one given out in 1990.
Texas and Wisconsin have each had five winners, and Alabama has had three.
Three players have won it twice, with Texas’ Ricky Williams, Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.
Six of the last seven winners are still in the NFL, a list that consists of Derrick Henry from Alabama, D’Onta Foreman from Texas, Wisconsin’s Taylor, Najee Harris from Alabama, Kenneth Walker III of Michigan State and Texas’ Bijan Robinson.