Squally Canada named to 2018 Doak Walker watch list

DALLAS – BYU senior running back Squally Canada was named to the 2018 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list on Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

The Doak Walker Award is presented to the nation’s top college running back. 

Canada, a California product, led the Cougars in rushing last season with 120 carries, 710 yards and six touchdowns. He posted a 213-yard performance against UNLV to rank No. 10 in BYU history. 

Former Consensus All-American Luke Staley won the Doak Walker Award at BYU in 2001 after a record-setting season with 1,582 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns. 

The Cougars are set to face seven different 2018 Doak Walker Award preseason candidates during the 2018 season, featuring 2017 Doak Walker Award finalist Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin. BYU also matches up against J.J. Taylor from Arizona, Patrick Laird of Cal, Myles Gaskin from Washington, Boise State’s Alexander Mattison, Marquis Young of UMass and Zack Moss from Utah.

University athletic departments nominate candidates for the award and can continue to do so through October.         

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced on November 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 26 to determine the recipient. 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 2018 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 6 on ESPN.

The award, which will name its 29th recipient in 2018, 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.