University Park, Pa. — Penn State senior tailback Evan Royster (Fairfax, Va.) has been selected as a candidate for the 2010 Doak Walker Award, the PricewaterhouseCoopers SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday. The award, which Royster was a finalist for in 2008 and a nominee for in 2009, is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate running back.
A 2010 third team pre-season All-American by Phil Steele’s, Royster has been one of the nation’s premier tailbacks the past two years. He enters the season with 2,918 career rushing yards, ranking No. 8 in the Penn State record books. He needs 481 yards to break Curt Warner’s school record of 3,398 yards and is just 82 yards shy of becoming the sixth Nittany Lion to eclipse 3,000 yards on the ground.
The former Westfield High School All-Met selection ran for 1,169 yards last year to earn first team All-Big Ten accolades. His 5.7 average was best among conference rushers with at least 110 carries. Royster also led Penn State with 1,364 all-purpose yards (104.9 ypg), ranking No. 3 in the conference in the regular season.
Royster delivered six 100-yard rushing games a year ago, led by 137 yards in a 20-0 win over Minnesota. Penn State has posted a perfect 12-0 record when he breaks the 100-yard barrier.
In 2008, Royster earned second team all-conference accolades after gaining 1,236 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on Nov. 10, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will then cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on November 22. The Committee will cast a second vote beginning on November 29 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 2010 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, in February 2011.
The award, in its 21th year, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.
Penn State opens the 2010 season on Sept. 4 versus Youngstown State at Beaver Stadium. Scheduled for a noon kickoff, the game will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
