Boston College Athletics
Williams Named Doak Walker Finalist
November 25, 2013 | Football
Nov. 25, 2013
Boston College senior running back Andre Williams, who leads the nation in rushing attempts (320), rushing yards (2073) and rushing yards per game (188.5), has been named one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award given annually to college football’s top running back, according to an announcement made by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors on Monday.
The finalists include Williams, Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey and Washington’s Bishop Sankey.
Williams, a 6-foot, 227-pound product of Schnecksville, Pa., who is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, has rushed for more than 200 yards five times and more than 250 yards four times this season. Most recently, he registered 32 rushing attempts for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 29-26 win at Maryland (Nov. 23). Williams has rushed for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in his last four games, and has 16 total touchdowns on the season.
Williams has already broken the Boston College and Atlantic Coast Conference record for single-season rushing yards, and he is the 16th running back in FBS history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season. His current total of 2,073 rushing yards ranks 12th all-time.
Members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a second ballot to determine the recipient of the 2013 Doak Walker Award. The recipient will be revealed on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing live from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk at the Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. The award will be presented at the 2013 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014.
Williams, Carey and Sankey will be highlighted on ESPNU during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special, which will air on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Anish Shroff will host the 30-minute special, and it will include analysis from Charles Arbuckle.
The Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Next, Boston College (7-4, 4-3 ACC) travels to Syracuse to face the Orange (5-6, 3-4 ACC) on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. The game will be carried live by the ACC Regional Sports Network.
