Alabama RB Najee Harris Wins 2020 Doak Walker Award

Harris becomes the third Crimson Tide player in school history to be recognized as the nation's best tailback

On Thursday evening, University of Alabama running back Najee Harris was named the 2020 Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's best tailback. 

In addition to outstanding performance on the field, candidates for the award must have demonstrated records of leadership and exhibited the characteristics of sportsmanship and fair play associated with Doak Walker, which has contributed to underdog winners in the past.

The Crimson Tide tailback won over Iowa State's Breece Hall and Clemson's Travis Etienne. He is the third winner from Alabama in the history of the award. 

Harris, a senior from Antioch, Calif., helped keep the pace in undefeated Alabama’s offense by leading the nation with 27 total TD’s and as the SEC leader in rushing yards (1,387, 3rd in nation), rushing yards per game (115.6, 12th) and rushing TD’s (24, 1st). He scored at least one TD in 11 of the Crimson Tide’s 12 games. 

The first team All-SEC back rushed for 125 yards last week in Alabama’s 34-17 Rose Bowl win over Notre Dame with 40 receiving yards and had 245 total yards and a record five TD’s in the Crimson Tide’s win over Florida in the 2020 SEC Championship Game. He became Alabama’s career rushing leader (now 3,717 yards) in the SEC title game, passing 2015 Doak Walker Award winner Derrick Henry. 

Another all-purpose threat, Harris has averaged 9.6 yards on his 36 catches. Henry is the Tide’s last Doak Walker Award winner from 2015 and Trent Richardson won it in 2011. 

Past Doak Walker Award Winners

2020 Najee Harris Alabama

2019 Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin

2018 Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin

2017 Bryce Love Stanford

2016 D'Onta Foreman Texas

2015 Derrick Henry Alabama

2014 Melvin Gordon Wisconsin 

2013 Andre Williams Boston College

2012 Monte Ball Wisconsin

2011 Trent Richardson Alabama

2010 LaMike James Oregon

2009 Toby Gerhart Stanford

2008 Shonn Greene Iowa

2007 Darren McFadden Arkansas

2006 Darren McFadden Arkansas 

2005 Reggie Bush USC

2004 Cedric Benson Texas

2003 Chris Perry Michigan 

2002 Larry Johnson Penn State

2001 Luke Staley BYU

2000 LaDainian Tomlinson TCU

1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin

1998 Ricky Williams Texas

1997 Ricky Williams Texas

1996 Byron Hanspard Texas Tech

1995 Eddie George Ohio State

1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado 

1993 Bam Morris Texas Tech

1992 Garrison Hearst Georgia

1991 Trevor Cobb Rice

1990 Greg Lewis Washington