Major collegiate honor includes South Carolina football senior on award watch list

Last week, South Carolina football running back Rocket Sanders was included on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award. Now, on Tuesday, he added another major collegiate award watch list to his 2024 resume as the Doak Walker Award Forum announced he was 1 of 88 players to be included on the preseason watch list for the award.

The Doak Walker Award is given to the best running back in college football every season. It is named after Doak Walker, a legendary player from the SMU Mustangs, and is awarded by the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors National Selection Committee.

Sanders, who was an All-American in 2022 with the Arkansas Razorbacks, will be in his first season with the South Carolina football program. Viewed as the top transfer portal addition for the Gamecocks this offseason, Sanders is bouncing back from a knee issue and shoulder surgery. If healthy, he is viewed as one of the best 'backs in the country as evidenced by multiple publications including him on their preseason All-SEC teams.

The entire Doak Walker Award preseason watch list can be seen below:

Kaytron Allen, Penn State Nittany Lions
LeQuint Allen, Syracuse Orange
Mario Anderson, Memphis Tigers
Kevorian Barnes, UT-San Antonio Roadrunners
CJ Baxter, Texas Longhorns
Lee Beebe, Jr., UAB Blazers
Ulysses Bentley IV, Ole Miss Rebels
Jaydon Blue, Texas Longhorns
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Antario Brown, Northern Illinois Huskies
Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan Broncos
Ryan Butler, Stanford Cardinal
CJ Campbell, Jr., Florida Atlantic Owls
Marcus Carroll, Missouri Tigers
Nathan Carter, Michigan State Spartans
Donald Chaney, Louisville Cardinals
Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Dean Connors, Rice Owls
Quinton Cooley, Liberty Flames
Marquez Cooper, San Diego State Aztecs
Marquis Crosby, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona Wildcats
Ja'Quez Cross, Arkansas State
Sean Dollars, Nevada Wolfpack
CJ Donaldson, Jr., West Virginia Mountaineers
Donovan Edwards, Michigan Wolverines
Trevor Etienne, Georgia Bulldogs
Rahsul Faison, Utah State Aggies
Kaden Feagin, Illinois Fighting Illini
DJ Giddens, Kansas State Wildcats
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Rodney Hammond, Jr., Pittsburgh Panthers
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Tar Heels
TJ Harden, UCLA Bruins
Rahjai Harris, East Carolina Pirates
RJ Harvey, UCF Golden Knights
Justice Haynes, Alabama Crimson Tide
Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Roman Hemby, Maryland Terrapins
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State Buckeyes
Daniel Hishaw, Jr., Kansas Jayhawks
Jarquez Hunter, Auburn Tigers
Jordan James, Oregon Ducks
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos
Montrell Johnson, Jr., Florida Gators
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jaylan Knighton, SMU Mustangs
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Marion Lukes, Central Michigan Chippewas
Phil Mafah, Clemson Tigers
Woody Marks, Southern Cal Trojans
LJ Martin, BYU Cougars
Damien Martinez, Miami Hurricanes
Josh McCray, Illinois Fighting Illini
Chez Mellsi, Wisconsin Badgers
Jam Miller, Alabama Crimson Tide
Devin Mockobee, Purdue Boilermakers
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers Scarlet Knight
Jaquez Moore, Duke Blue Devils
Devin Neal, Kansas Jayhawks
Nate Noel, Missouri Tigers
Jaydn Ott, Cal Golden Bears
Cam Porter, Northwestern Wildcats
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Kanye Roberts, Appalachian State Mountaineers
Kye Robichaux, Boston College Eagles
Abu Sama III, Iowa State Cyclones
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Volunteers
Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, South Carolina Gamecocks
Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma Sooners
Malik Sherrod, Fresno State Bulldogs
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State Nittany Lions
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State Sun Devils
Terion Stewart, Bowling Green Falcons
Darius Taylor, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Alex Tecza, Navy Midshipmen
Jai'Den Thomas, UNLV Runnin' Rebels
DeaMonte Trayanum, Kentucky Wildcats
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech Hokies
Kayne Udoh, Army Black Knights
Dre'lyn Washington, Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Jordan Waters, NC State Wolfpack
Harrison Waylee, Wyoming Cowboys
Jaheim White, West Virginia Mountaineers
Noah Whittington, Oregon Ducks
Leshon Williams, Iowa Hawkeyes
Nay'Quan Wright, USF Bulls
Elijah Young, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers