Named after the legendary SMU Mustangs rusher, the Doak Walker Award has been honoring the top running back in college football since 1990. In addition to on-field success, the award has a specific criterion that also encompasses academic standing and “good citizenship within and beyond the athletic sphere.”
All the Doak Walker Award winners are listed by year below.
Doak Walker Award Winners Listed by Year
- 2023 – Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- 2022 – Bijan Robinson, Texas
- 2021 – Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
- 2020 – Najee Harris, Alabama
- 2019 – Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
- 2018 – Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
- 2017 – Bryce Love, Stanford
- 2016 – D’Onta Foreman, Texas
- 2015 – Derrick Henry, Alabama
- 2014 – Melvin Gordon III, Wisconsin
- 2013 – Andre Williams, Boston College
- 2012 – Montee Ball, Wisconsin
- 2011 – Trent Richardson, Alabama
- 2010 – LaMichael James, Oregon
- 2009 – Toby Gerhart, Stanford
- 2008 – Shonn Greene, Iowa
- 2007 – Darren McFadden, Arkansas
- 2006 – Darren McFadden, Arkansas
- 2005 – Reggie Bush, USC
- 2004 – Cedric Benson, Texas
- 2003 – Chris Perry, Michigan
- 2002 – Larry Johnson, Penn State
- 2001 – Luke Staley, BYU
- 2000 – LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU
- 1999 – Ron Dayne, Wisconsin
- 1998 – Ricky Williams, Texas
- 1997 – Ricky Williams, Texas
- 1996 – Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech
- 1995 – Eddie George, Ohio State
- 1994 – Rashaan Salaam, Colorado
- 1993 – Byron “Bam” Morris, Texas Tech
- 1992 – Garrison Hearst, Georgia
- 1991 – Trevor Cobb, Rice
- 1990 – Greg Lewis, Washington
In 2023, Ollie Gordon II became the first Oklahoma State running back to win the award and etched his name right next to Barry Sanders as one of the greatest running backs in Cowboys’ history.