Big 12 Conference could have three running backs competing for Doak Walker Award

Tony Adame

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Big 12 Conference could have three running backs competing for Doak Walker Award image

The Big 12 Conference could be the place for elite running backs in 2024 — if it isn’t already. 

Pro Football Focus included three Big 12 running backs in a preseason list of potential Doak Walker Award winners, including reigning winner Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State. 

The other two running backs were Kansas’ Devin Neal and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks. 

Gordon rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023 and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. He also had 39 receptions for 330 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Neal rushed for 1,209 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards per carry to go with 24 receptions for 213 yards and 1 touchdown as a junior. 

Brooks rushed for 1,541 yards and 10 touchdowns as he averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a junior for the Red Raiders — his 290 carries were the most out of the three running backs.

Tony Adame

Tony Adame Photo

Tony Adame covers the Big 12 Conference for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. He has won APSE Awards for breaking news, games stories and feature writing. He is also the writer and host of the Florida Society of News Editors Award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County for USA Today/Gannett.