Louisville RB Javian Hawkins named to 2020 Doak Walker Watch List

The redshirt sophomore from Titusville, FL is the seventh running back in program history to be named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.

Just one day after redshirt junior quarterback Micale Cunningham was named to the watch list for the 2020 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, another member of the Cardinals' offense cracked a watch list at his position.

Redshirt sophomore running back Javian Hawkins was named to the 2020 Doak Walker Award watch list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday. The award is presented to the nation's top collegiate running back, and Hawkins is one of 76 to be named to the 2020 iteration of the award's preseason watch list.

After appearing in just three games and carrying the ball one time for seven yards before taking a redshirt in 2018, he exploded onto the scene for his redshirt freshman year.

In 2019, 5-foot-9 & 196-pound Titusville, FL native ranked seventh in the nation in rushing with 1,525 yards as well as nine touchdowns. He not only broke the freshman rushing record for a running back held by Victor Anderson, but also the school single-season rushing record for a running back held by Howard Stevens. He was named a Freshman All-American and also earned Second Team All-ACC Honors.

Hawkins is the seventh Louisville running back to be named to the Doak Walker watch list, following:

• 2004 - Lionel Gates
• 2005 - Michael Bush
• 2010, 2011 - Victor Anderson
• 2010 - Bilal Powell
• 2013 - Dominique Brown
• 2013 - Senorise Perry

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.

The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

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