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University of Minnesota Athletics
Brooks Named Doak Walker Award Candidate
7/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota sophomore Shannon Brooks is on the Doak Walker Award's preseason candidates list, announced Thursday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.
Last year, Brooks rushed 119 times for 709 yards, which was the fourth-most ever by a Gopher freshman. He rushed for seven touchdowns, which covered 75, 71, 40, 38, five and three yards (twice). He became the first Gopher since Laurence Maroney in 2005 to have four touchdown runs longer than 35 yards in one season. He also averaged 6.0 yards per carry, which is the 11th-best mark in school history and the third-best ever for a freshman behind Maroney (6.92 on 162 carries in 2003) and Barber III (6.28 on 118 carries in 2001).
Brooks rumbled for 176 yards at Purdue and gained 174 yards against Illinois. Those marks rank eighth and 10th in single-game rushing records for a Minnesota freshman. Brooks also completed one pass last year, which was a 42-yard touchdown to Drew Wolitarsky at Iowa.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists on November 16, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on November 22. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 28 to determine the recipient.
