TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football junior running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage have been named preseason candidates for the Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday.
The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back. ASU is one of three Pac-12 schools with two representatives for a total of 11 Pac-12 nominees.
Richard, who was also named to the 2016 Maxwell Award preseason list, amassed 1,407 yards from scrimmage with 648 of those coming after first contact in 2015. Known as one of the premier running backs in the West, the junior rushed for over 100 yards in seven of 11 regular season appearances, becoming the fourth-ever player in ASU history to accomplish that feat.