Players Mentioned
USC Running Backs Bryan Jackson, Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders Named to 2025 Doak Walker Award Watch List
August 05, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES --Â USC running backs Bryan Jackson, Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders were named to the 2025 Doak Walker Award Watch List, today (Aug. 5). The PwC SMU Athletic Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back.
There were 25 teams with multiple candidates, including six in the Big Ten (Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA and USC).
Four teams tied for the national lead with three candidates: ECU, Notre Dame, Temple and USC.
Jackson who had a stellar freshman season in 2024 returns to make an impact from the Trojan backfield as a sophomore in 2025. The bulldozing back saw action in all 13 games and rushed for 188 yards on 36 attempts (5.2 avg.) and scored 1 TD. He also had 1 reception for no gain and a tackle. To close out the 2024 season, herecorded 6 carries for season-high 71 yards (with his season-long of 23 yards) against Notre Dame, and he tallied 66 yards on 16 carries with 1 TD in his breakout game in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M.
Jordan, who transferred to USC in the spring of 2025 from Hutchinson CC, looks to see significant playing time as a junior in 2025 as a jack-of-all-trades back.  He was rated as the No. 1 JUCO running back in the nation by On3, 247Sports and ESPN. He was touted as the No. 2 JUCO prospect from the State of Kansas by 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 7 JUCO prospect in the nation by ESPN, No. 11 by Rivals and No. 18 by 247Sports.
As a sophomore in 2024, Jordan was named the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year. He led the Blue Dragons to win the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Championship. Jordan rushed for 1,614 yards on 218 carries (7.4 avg.) while averaging 134.5 yards per game with 20 TDs through 12 games. He finished out the 2024 season first in the nation in yards, yards per game, and touchdowns, while also finishing fourth in the nation in yards per rush with 7.4. He also recorded 6 receptions for 43 yards (7.2 avg.) and 1 TD. He won the JUCOWeekly Trophy which is presented to The Best JUCO Player in America (junior college's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy). He was named 2024 NJCAA DI Football First Team All-American and to the 2024 All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference First Team. Throughout the season, he was named a five-time KJCCC Player of the Week and NJCAA Week 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Jordan became the 20th Blue Dragon running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He recorded nine games of 100 or more rushing yards and 2 games with over 200 yards. His season high was 213 yards on 24 carries and 3 TDs in a 44-0 victory over Highland.
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Sanders, who transferred to USC in the spring of 2025 from New Mexico is ready to make his Coliseum debut as a redshirt senior in 2025.Â
In his four-year career (3 seasons at New Mexico and 1 at Iowa State), the speedy back has recorded 305 carries for 1,766 yards (5.8 avg.) with a long of 75 and 13 TDs through 33 games. He has also tallied 30 receptions for 268 yards (8.9 avg.) with a long of 31 and 1 TD. Additionally, he had 5 kickoff returns for 113 yards (22.6 avg.) with a long of 32.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.Â
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 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12 on ESPN.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.Â
Each Tuesday of the 2025Â season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.Â
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There were 25 teams with multiple candidates, including six in the Big Ten (Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA and USC).
Four teams tied for the national lead with three candidates: ECU, Notre Dame, Temple and USC.
Jackson who had a stellar freshman season in 2024 returns to make an impact from the Trojan backfield as a sophomore in 2025. The bulldozing back saw action in all 13 games and rushed for 188 yards on 36 attempts (5.2 avg.) and scored 1 TD. He also had 1 reception for no gain and a tackle. To close out the 2024 season, herecorded 6 carries for season-high 71 yards (with his season-long of 23 yards) against Notre Dame, and he tallied 66 yards on 16 carries with 1 TD in his breakout game in the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M.
Jordan, who transferred to USC in the spring of 2025 from Hutchinson CC, looks to see significant playing time as a junior in 2025 as a jack-of-all-trades back.  He was rated as the No. 1 JUCO running back in the nation by On3, 247Sports and ESPN. He was touted as the No. 2 JUCO prospect from the State of Kansas by 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 7 JUCO prospect in the nation by ESPN, No. 11 by Rivals and No. 18 by 247Sports.
As a sophomore in 2024, Jordan was named the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year. He led the Blue Dragons to win the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Championship. Jordan rushed for 1,614 yards on 218 carries (7.4 avg.) while averaging 134.5 yards per game with 20 TDs through 12 games. He finished out the 2024 season first in the nation in yards, yards per game, and touchdowns, while also finishing fourth in the nation in yards per rush with 7.4. He also recorded 6 receptions for 43 yards (7.2 avg.) and 1 TD. He won the JUCOWeekly Trophy which is presented to The Best JUCO Player in America (junior college's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy). He was named 2024 NJCAA DI Football First Team All-American and to the 2024 All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference First Team. Throughout the season, he was named a five-time KJCCC Player of the Week and NJCAA Week 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Jordan became the 20th Blue Dragon running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He recorded nine games of 100 or more rushing yards and 2 games with over 200 yards. His season high was 213 yards on 24 carries and 3 TDs in a 44-0 victory over Highland.
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Sanders, who transferred to USC in the spring of 2025 from New Mexico is ready to make his Coliseum debut as a redshirt senior in 2025.Â
In his four-year career (3 seasons at New Mexico and 1 at Iowa State), the speedy back has recorded 305 carries for 1,766 yards (5.8 avg.) with a long of 75 and 13 TDs through 33 games. He has also tallied 30 receptions for 268 yards (8.9 avg.) with a long of 31 and 1 TD. Additionally, he had 5 kickoff returns for 113 yards (22.6 avg.) with a long of 32.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.Â
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 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12 on ESPN.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.Â
Each Tuesday of the 2025Â season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.Â
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