Aug. 28, 2007

MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis tailback Joseph Doss has been selected to the 2007 Doak Walker Award watch list as released by the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.

Heading in to his senior campaign, Doss ranks 12th all-time in career rushing yards at Memphis with 1,533 yards over three seasons. He also ranks fourth all-time in single season carries with 224 and is seventh in single season rushing yards following his 910 yard effort in 2006. Doss rushed for his first career 100-yard game in the 2006 season-opener against Ole Miss, rolling off 112 yards on 23 rushes at Ole Miss. The Melrose High School graduate started 11 of 12 games in 2006, and has three career games of 100 or more yards rushing.

Doss rushed for his 1,000th career yard against Tulsa and scored three of Memphis' five touchdowns in the 2006 season finale victory over UTEP in El Paso. His three scores against UTEP made Doss the first Tiger to tally three rushing touchdowns since DeAngelo Williams scored three rushing touchdowns in the 2005 Motor City Bowl. Doss registered a touchdown in each of the final seven games of the season.

Over his three-year career, Doss has played in 35 career games, starting in 17. He has 363 total rushes for 1,533 yards, a 4.2 yard per carry total. He also has nine rushing touchdowns to his name heading in to his fourth season as a Tiger.

This year's field of candidates includes 2006 Doak Walker Award recipient Arkansas junior Darren McFadden, as well as 2006 Doak Walker Award finalists Michigan senior Mike Hart and West Virginia junior Steve Slaton. Other candidates include Boise State junior Ian Johnson, who led the nation in touchdowns last season; and Rutgers junior Ray Rice who rushed for more yards than any returning player and set a Big East record with 1,794 yards in 2006.

The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on November 12, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists to be announced on November 19. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on November 26 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2007 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN along with other NCFAA member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 6. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at The Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, February 15, 2008.

The award, in its 18th year, 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.

Honoring the legends of sports for 19 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.

The complete list of candidates, who were nominated by their universities, follows:

Tarrion Adams (Jr.), Tulsa
Reggie Arnold (So.), Arkansas State
Toney Baker (Jr.), NC State
Lance Ball (Sr.), Maryland
Yvenson Bernard (Sr.), Oregon State
Curtis Brinkley (Jr.), Syracuse
Aaron Brown (Jr.), TCU
Andre Brown (Jr.), NC State
Donald Brown (So.), Connecticut
Thomas Brown (Sr.), Georgia
Kenny Cattouse (Sr.), Troy
Hugh Charles (Sr.), Colorado
Jamaal Charles (Sr.), Texas
James Davis (Jr.), Clemson
Calvin Dawson (Sr.), UL Monroe
Joseph Doss (Sr.), Memphis
Rodney Ferguson (Jr.), New Mexico
Damion Fletcher (So.), Southern Miss.
Justin Forsett (Sr.), California
Matt Forté (Sr.), Tulane
Mike Goodson (So.), Texas A&M
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Sr.), Mississippi
Mike Hart (Sr.), Michigan
P.J. Hill (So.), Wisconsin
Patrick Jackson (Jr.), Louisiana Tech
Javarris James (So.), Miami (FL)
Ian Johnson (Jr.), Boise State
Felix Jones (Jr.), Arkansas
Jorvorskie Lane (Jr.), Texas A&M
Rafael Little (Sr.), Kentucky
Marlon Lucky (Jr.), Nebraska
Kregg Lumpkin (Sr.), Georgia
Chris Markey (Sr.), UCLA
DeMyron Martin (Jr.), SMU
Darren McFadden (Jr.), Arkansas
Rashard Mendenhall (Jr.), Illinois
Jalen Parmele (Sr.), Toledo
Amir Pinnix (Sr.), Minnesota
Ray Rice (Jr.), Rutgers
Kory Sheets (Jr.), Purdue
Steve Slaton (Jr.), West Virginia
Kevin Smith (Jr.), Central Florida
Ontario Sneed (Jr.), Central Michigan
C.J. Spiller (So.), Clemson
Tyrell Sutton (Jr.), Northwestern
Courtney Tennial (Sr.), Tulsa
Marcus Thomas (Sr.), UTEP
Ryan Torain (Sr.), Arizona State
Chris Wells (So.), Ohio State
Shannon Woods (Jr.), Texas Tech
Albert Young (Sr.), Iowa State