DALLAS – University of Hawai'i running back Dayton Furuta was named as a preseason candidate for the 2019 Doak Walker Award, announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.
 
Furuta, a senior from Mililani, O'ahu, made the full-time switch to offense and the running back position last season, starting six games. He finished second on the team with 459 yards rushing on 93 carries, while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He tallied a pair of 100-yard games, rushing for a career-high 114 yards in a win over Duquesne and 101 yards two weeks later in a win over Wyoming.
 
The 2018 Doak Walker Award recipient Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin, headlines the list of preseason candidates.
 
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced on November 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning December 2 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 2019 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec. 12on ESPN. 
 
The award, which will name its 30^threcipient in 2019, 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.
 
In the last three days, quarterback Cole McDonald was named to the watch lists of both the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award.