Texas Tech University Athletics
Dickey named to Doak Walker Award watch list
August 18, 2026 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech running back Cameron Dickey was named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back.
Dickey is one of five returning 2025 semifinalists on this year's 62-player preseason watch list. The list includes 2025 Doak Walker Award semifinalists Cam Cook (West Virginia), Lucky Sutton (San Diego State), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri) and Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), along with Dickey. Hardy and Lacy went on to become finalists alongside eventual 2025 winner Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame.
The 2025 season marked the third consecutive year Texas Tech had a player among the 10 Doak Walker Award semifinalists. Dickey followed in the footsteps of Tahj Brooks, the Red Raiders' all-time leader in career rushing yards, who was named a semifinalist in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. Texas Tech has a decorated history with the award, with Byron Hanspard (1996) and Bam Morris (1993) both having won the Doak Walker Award.
Dickey finished his sophomore season among the top single-season rushing performers in Texas Tech history, tying for seventh with 14 rushing touchdowns and ranking 12th with 1,124 rushing yards. He broke out in a big way during a win over Kansas, rushing for 263 yards, the fifth-highest single-game rushing total in program history.
Tuesday's watch list represents the third preseason honor for Dickey, who was also tabbed to the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award watch lists. Both awards recognize the most outstanding player in college football.
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 also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, 2026.
About the Doak Walker Award/NCFAA
Named after Doak Walker, a legendary figure who was a three-time All-American at SMU and an NFL running back, the Doak Walker Award has been presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum to the nation's top running back since 1990. Since 2022, the award has also recognized a National Running Back of the Week. Honoring the legends of sports for 37 years, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding achievement in athletics.
The Doak Walker Award is one of 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
Dickey is one of five returning 2025 semifinalists on this year's 62-player preseason watch list. The list includes 2025 Doak Walker Award semifinalists Cam Cook (West Virginia), Lucky Sutton (San Diego State), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri) and Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), along with Dickey. Hardy and Lacy went on to become finalists alongside eventual 2025 winner Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame.
The 2025 season marked the third consecutive year Texas Tech had a player among the 10 Doak Walker Award semifinalists. Dickey followed in the footsteps of Tahj Brooks, the Red Raiders' all-time leader in career rushing yards, who was named a semifinalist in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. Texas Tech has a decorated history with the award, with Byron Hanspard (1996) and Bam Morris (1993) both having won the Doak Walker Award.
Dickey finished his sophomore season among the top single-season rushing performers in Texas Tech history, tying for seventh with 14 rushing touchdowns and ranking 12th with 1,124 rushing yards. He broke out in a big way during a win over Kansas, rushing for 263 yards, the fifth-highest single-game rushing total in program history.
Tuesday's watch list represents the third preseason honor for Dickey, who was also tabbed to the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award watch lists. Both awards recognize the most outstanding player in college football.
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 also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December 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 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, 2026.
About the Doak Walker Award/NCFAA
Named after Doak Walker, a legendary figure who was a three-time All-American at SMU and an NFL running back, the Doak Walker Award has been presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum to the nation's top running back since 1990. Since 2022, the award has also recognized a National Running Back of the Week. Honoring the legends of sports for 37 years, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding achievement in athletics.
The Doak Walker Award is one of 16 NCFAA members unveiling preseason watch lists over a three-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award's preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2026 preseason watch list calendar:
- Wed., Aug. 19: Biletnikoff Award
- Thu., Aug. 20: Davey O'Brien Award
- Fri., Aug. 21: Bednarik Award
Players Mentioned
RB
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