DeAngelo Williams Named a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist - CONFERENCEUSA.COM - The Official Athletic site of The Conference USA

DeAngelo Williams Named a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
Fans invited to vote at ESPN.com for prestigious award.

	DeAngelo Williams

Nov. 18, 2005

University of Memphis tailback DeAngelo Williams was named one of the 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award as released today by the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors.

Williams leads the nation in rushing and all-purpose yards this season. He averages 184.5 rushing yards and 195 all-purpose yards per game, and has rushed for more than 200 yards in four games this season. A Heisman Trophy candidate, Williams has rushed for at least 100 yards in all but the season opener and totals 31 career games of 100-plus yards rushing. The NCAA record is 33 games, which was set by both Archie Griffin and Tony Dorsett.

Ranked third in NCAA history with 7,058 yards, Williams needs just 149 all-purpose yards to set an NCAA record. The current record holder is Ricky Williams, who totaled 7,206 yards at Texas from 1995-98. Williams also ranks seventh all-time in the NCAA Record Book with 5,538 rushing yards. An additional 61 yards would allow him to surpass Charles White for the No. 4 spot. White totaled 5,598 yards at USC from 1976-79.

The semifinalists (in alphabetical order) are: Reggie Bush (Jr.) USC Brian Calhoun (Jr.) Wisconsin Maurice Drew (Jr.) UCLA Jerome Harrison (Sr.) Washington State Kenny Irons (Jr.) Auburn Laurence Maroney (Jr.) Minnesota DonTrell Moore (Sr.) New Mexico LenDale White (Jr.) USC DeAngelo Williams (Sr.) Memphis Albert Young (So.) Iowa

"There are so many outstanding performers at the running back position this year. These ten players have been impressive to watch, and I look forward to an exciting finish to the season," said Tony Dorsett, NFL Hall of Famer and member of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee.

The 153 members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes over the next week to determine the 2005 finalists. On Wednesday, November 23, three finalists will be named, and a second vote will determine the recipient.

The recipient of the 2005 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 8. The award will be presented at the 2005 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Monday, February 27, 2006. Jim Swink, former TCU star running back, was named the recipient of the 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award and will also be honored at the banquet.

Honoring the legends of sports for 17 years, the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding success in athletics. Based in Dallas, the series features major figures from a variety of sports. The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum includes four luncheons and the prestigious Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet. For additional information, please visit www.doakwalkeraward.com.

Fans are invited to visit ESPN.com and use keyword Doak Walker to participate in the fan poll beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 18. The results of the ESPN.com poll will count as one official vote towards determining the recipient of the 2005 Doak Walker Award.