The PwC SMU Athletic Forum released in July the preseason candidates for the 2022 Doak Walker Award. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s top college running back. Junior Chris Tyree was among the student-athletes selected for the watch list.

Chris Tyree Information:

• Dangerous with the ball out of the backfield or as a passing target, was fourth on the team with 827 all-purpose yards as a sophomore in 2021. 
• Scored three touchdowns, one on special teams and two through the air. 
• Finished the year with a career-best 115 receiving years and a touchdown against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. 
• Flipped the momentum in the Irish victory over Wisconsin in the Shamrock Series game at Soldier Field in 2021 with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown – the first such return for the Irish since 2016. 
• Posted 1,017 all-purpose yards as a freshman 2020 while leading the ACC in kickoff return yard average (20.7) and rushing for 6.8 yards per carry. 
• 2021 Phil Steele Second Team All-Independent

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 ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will 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 2022 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The award 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.

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