The list of semifinalists for the 2014 Doak Walker Award appeared to be missing a name on Tuesday.
Despite ranking seventh in the nation in rushing yards, averaging 135 yards a game, Minnesota Gophers running back David Cobb was not a semifinalist for the award that goes to college football’s best running back.
Through 10 games, Cobb has rushed for 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns and has put up more yards than several of the players who were named semifinalists.
ESPN’s Brian Bennett highlights an impressive list of accomplishments this season for the Gopher senior.
“He’s had two 200-yard games this season, a 194-yard effort vs. Purdue, a 183-yard showing vs. Michigan and last week’s 145-yard, three-touchdown day against Ohio State. He’s done all of this while basically carrying a Gophers’ offense that doesn’t pass the ball much. According to Minnesota, Cobb is responsible for 31.6 percent of his team’s all-purpose yards and 37.6 percent of its total offense.”
Here is the list of semifinalists:
- Ameer Abdullah (Sr.), Nebraska
- Jay Ajayi (Jr.), Boise State
- Javorius “Buck” Allen (Jr.), USC
- Cameron Artis-Payne (Sr.), Auburn
- Matt Breida (So.), Georgia Southern
- Tevin Coleman (Jr.), Indiana
- James Conner (So.), Pittsburgh
- Melvin Gordon (Jr.), Wisconsin
- Devon Johnson (Jr.), Marshall
- Duke Johnson (Jr.), Miami
Cobb has rushed for more yards than five of the backs on the list of 10.
“I will tell you, that will highly motivate that young man,” said Gophers coach Jerry Kill to the Star Tribune. “He’s played good, and he’ll get rewarded. He just needs to keep playing hard and playing well.”
Hahaha, just⛽️to the 🔥
— HERCULES (@DCobb27) November 19, 2014
David Cobb talks about being left off the Doak Walker list and going up against Ameer Abdullah on Saturday. #Gophers http://t.co/ECEiwJzeRr
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) November 20, 2014
Cobb still has a chance to break Minnesota’s single-season rushing record. He is 114 yards shy of Laurence Maroney’s 1,464 yards and has two games remaining, against Nebraska and Wisconsin.
But the reward might be one of a different kind. After back-to-back great seasons, Cobb now finds himself as one of the best NFL running back prospects in the Big Ten.
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