TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, as announced today by the organization.
 
The Doak Walker Award honors the nation's best running back. Croskey-Merritt makes the first appearance on the Doak Walker Award preseason Watch List in his collegiate career. He joined the Wildcats after rushing for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns with New Mexico during the 2023 season.
 
The senior from Montgomery, Alabama, rushed for the seventh-most yards in a single-season in New Mexico football history. 17 rushing touchdowns marked the third most in a single season for the Lobos football program.
 
Croskey-Merritt has recorded 2,609 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns combined between Alabama State (4 seasons) and New Mexico (1 season) over his collegiate career. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2023 while on his way to a career high in yards and touchdowns.
 
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 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 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12, 2024.
 
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.
 
The watch list features 2023 Doak Walker Award recipient Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State), who is seeking to become the third two-time recipient of the award (Melvin Gordon 2018-19 and Ricky Williams 1996-97). The list also features 2023 Award finalist Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and 2023 semifinalists Tajh Brooks (Texas Tech), Marcus Carroll (Missouri), R.J. Harvey (UCF), and Damien Martinez (Miami).

Arizona opens the 2024 season against New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. MST on ESPN.