Texas running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation’s top college running back. Smothers earns the recognition for the second straight season, while Brown makes his first appearance on the list after transferring from Arizona State. The pair joins a Texas program with extensive history in the award, as Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, D’Onta Foreman and Bijan Robinson combined for five Doak Walker trophies — tied with Wisconsin for the most by any FBS school.
Brown arrived in Austin following a productive 2025 season at Arizona State, where he rushed for 1,141 yards and four touchdowns while adding 34 receptions for 239 yards and two scores. The fifth-year back averaged 95.1 rushing yards per game and delivered one of the nation’s standout individual performances with 255 yards on 22 carries in a win at Colorado. Smothers transferred from NC State after earning first-team All-ACC honors last season. He totaled 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns for the Wolfpack, posting four 100-yard games while contributing 37 catches for 189 yards and another score. Smothers was also selected to the preseason All-SEC third team in July.
Brown and Smothers are the fourth Longhorns running back tandem in the past five years to land on the Doak Walker preseason watch list. The award’s semifinalists and finalists will be announced in November, with the winner revealed Dec. 10 during The Home Depot College Football Awards. Named for former SMU All-American Doak Walker, the honor is selected by a committee that includes past winners, former NFL and college standouts, media members and other representatives.
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