Can Michigan running back Donovan Edwards be the first Wolverine to win the Doak Walker Award since 2003? He was just included on the watchlist for the award.
For the Jim Harbaugh era, the running back position has been the pinnacle of a run-heavy offense that dominated most of the Big Ten. The last two years have been especially significant because of the play of Blake Corum, who might go down as the best player at the position in the history of the Michigan Wolverines football program.
Now the tides turn to Donovan Edwards, a homegrown talent from West Bloomfield who will finally get his chance in the spotlight.
Each year, the Doak Walker Award is given to the best running back in the country, and Edwards found his way onto the watchlist heading into the 2024 campaign.
Doak Walker Award Watch List » Donovan Edwards#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/KujbTltF8r
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) August 6, 2024
Despite the magnificent play from the position of late, no Wolverine has won the award since Chris Perry in 2003. Notably, Wisconsin is well-represented, with four backs earning the award since 2012. Michigan State ’s Kenneth Walker was the most recent Big Ten recipient with his 1,636-yard, 18-touchdown season in 2021.
The Doak Walker Award was first given out in 1990, with Washington’s Greg Lewis being the inaugural recipient. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon won the trophy last season and returns this season to the Cowboys with hopes of earning it again. He posted 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns, presenting a high benchmark for Edwards and others to approach this fall.
While Edwards has been magnificent in flashes, it will be interesting to see what he does with what will likely be an expanded workload in 2024. Even with Sherrone Moore taking over as head coach, expect the Michigan offense to keep pounding the rock just as it has the past few seasons.