TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona football running back Micheal Wiley has been named to the 2023 Doak Walker Award Watch List, as announced today by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

Wiley has been named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award for the second time in his collegiate career. He was named to the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List in 2021. The Doak Walker Award honors the nation's top college running back.
 
Wiley earns this honor after rushing for a career-high 771 yards on a career-high 113 carries, and a career-high eight touchdowns in 2022. He rushed for a career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona State in the Territorial Cup, helping lift the Wildcats to a 38-35 win. It marked the second-most rushing yards in the Territorial Cup game, as he earned the Bob Moran Award for being the MVP of the Territorial Cup.
 
The senior from Houston was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention after earning 2022 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Wiley became the first Wildcat to rush for over 700 yards in a season since JJ Taylor (721) in 2019.

The recipient of the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American 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.
 
Arizona opens the 2023 football season at home against Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.
 
THE DOAK WALKER AWARD
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.