July 20, 2017
Kamryn Pettway has been named as one of 61 Doak Walker Award preseason candidates for the honor given to the nation's premier collegiate running back. In only 10 games last season (six starts), Pettway accumulated 1,224 yards with seven touchdowns.
The 6-0, 235-pound junior led the SEC in rushing yards per game in 2016 with 122.4, which ranked 12th nationally. Pettway eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in just seven games last season.
As a Doak Walker semifinalist a year ago, Pettway was a first team All-SEC selection and rushed for 100 yards or more in seven of his nine games played (150-plus yards in five games). Auburn is 5-0 in games when he rushes for more than 150 yards.
Auburn has had quite a few Doak Walker semifinalists. The 2004 duo of Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams were both named semifinalists in Auburn's 13-0 season as the two combined for 2,078 yards and 20 touchdowns. The following season, newcomer Kenny Irons led the Tigers with 1,293 yards on 256 attempts with 13 touchdowns. Irons was a semifinalist for the award and was featured on the 2006 preseason watch list.
In his senior season in 2009, semifinalist Ben Tate racked up 1,362 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns with seven games rushing for over 100 yards. A headliner for the 2013 SEC Champions, Tre Mason finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was named a Doak Walker semifinalist. Mason led the SEC in total rushing yards, touchdowns and yards per game. He outmatched the second rusher on the list by 415 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 2014, Cameron Artis-Payne carried the load for the Tigers as he toted the ball 303 times for 1,608 yards (led SEC) and 13 touchdowns. Artis-Payne ranked 13th nationally in rushing.
Pettway will look to extend Auburn's streak of eight consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons by a running back.
Congratulations to @Uno_Kam on being named to the @DoakWalkerAward Watch List.#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/FwN5I4wtgF
- Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) July 20, 2017