Fuller Named to Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List

DALLAS – Sophomore running back Matthew Fuller was tabbed a preseason candidate for the 2026 Doak Walker Award the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Monday. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.

Fuller saw action in 10 games (three starts) last season for the Gamecocks. He saw more playing time as the season progressed, finishing 2025 with 72 attempts for 260 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and a pair of touchdowns. The Jesup, Ga. native had seven carries for a season-high 83 yards at LSU, including a 72-yard touchdown run.

He was named the 2026 Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring and will be a vital cog in the Gamecocks’ backfield in 2026.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November. 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 at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10. 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.

2026 Doak Walker Award Preseason Candidates
Ajay Allen (Sr.), Western Kentucky
Jabari Bates (Sr.), San Jose State
Jadan Baugh (Jr.), Florida
Braydon Bennett (Sr.), Eastern Michigan
Vaughn Blue (Jr.), Central Michigan
Mel Brown (Sr.), Colorado State
Raleek Brown (Sr.), Texas
Kenyon Clay (Sr.), Arkansas State
Cam Cook (Sr.), West Virginia
Manny Covey (Jr.), Memphis
Kam Davis (So.), Liberty
Jordon Davison (So.), Oregon
Evan Dickens (Jr.), Boston College
Cameron Dickey (Jr.), Texas Tech
Cam Edwards (Sr.), Michigan State
Dylan Edwards (Jr.), Kansas
Leonard Farrow (Sr.), Florida Atlantic
Mark Fletcher Jr. (Sr.), Miami
Matthew Fuller (So.), South Carolina
Ashton Grey (Jr.), East Carolina
Carson Hansen (Sr.), Penn State
Ahmad Hardy (Jr.), Missouri
Samuel Harris (So.), Wyoming
Caleb Hawkins (So.), Oklahoma State
Marcellous Hawkins (Sr.), Virginia Tech
Justice Haynes (Sr.), Georgia Tech
Malachi Hosley (Sr.), Georgia Tech
Makhi Hughes (Sr.), Houston
Fame Ijeboi (So.), Purdue
Bo Jackson (So.), Ohio State
Telly Johnson Jr. (Jr.), NIU
Peyton Jones (Jr.), Liberty
Demon June (Fr.), North Carolina
Wayne Knight (Sr.), UCLA
Ousmane Kromah (So.), Florida State
Kewan Lacy (Jr.), Ole Miss
Peyton Lewis (Jr.), Virginia
Khobie Martin (So.), Indiana
CJ Miller (Jr.), Toledo
Adam Mohammed (Jr.), California
Kamari Moulton (Jr.), Iowa
AJ Newberry (Jr.), Oregon State
Godspower Nwawuihe (So.), Army
James Peoples (Jr.), Penn State
George Pettaway (Sr.), James Madison
Kendrick Raphael (Sr.), SMU
Kedrick Reescano (Sr.), Arizona
Turbo Richard (Jr.), Indiana
Devin Roche (Jr.), Old Dominion
Jayden Scott (So.), NC State
Sutton Smith (Sr.), Arkansas
Hollywood Smothers (Jr.), Texas
Lucky Sutton (Sr.), San Diego State
Herschel Turner (Jr.), Nevada
Kanye Udoh (Sr.), Liberty
Ca’Lil Valentine (Jr.), Illinois
Duke Watson (Jr.), UCF
Jahiem White (Sr.), North Texas
DeJuan Williams (So.), Maryland
Yasin Willis (Jr.), Kansas

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