Football

OSU's Hubbard a Doak Walker Award Finalist

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard was named one of three national finalists for the 2019 Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back in the FBS.
 
Hubbard, a sophomore, is joined as a finalist by two juniors in Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin and J.K. Dobbins of Ohio State.
 
Leading the nation in nearly every statistical rushing category, Hubbard has made a strong case to be the Doak Walker Award winner, as well as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
 
With two games remaining this season, Hubbard is on pace to finish with a top-10 rushing season in FBS history. His 11-game total of 1,832 rushing yards is greater than the 11-game totals of six of the past 12 running backs to win the Heisman Trophy since 1980.
 
Hubbard leads the FBS in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, yards after contact (via Pro Football Focus), all-purpose yards, all-purpose yards per game and rushes of at least 20, 30. 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 yards.
 
When comparing Hubbard directly with the other two Doak Walker Award finalists, he leads the group in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, explosive runs (20 yards or longer), yards after contact (via PFF), receiving yards, receiving yards per game, all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game, among many other statistics. He also is the best of the three when it comes to the highest percentage of his team's total offensive output, the highest percentage of his team's all-purpose yardage, the single-game rushing high and the single-game receiving high, as well as several other categories.
 
The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a vote beginning on December 3 to select the 2019 award recipient, who will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12 on ESPN. The award will be presented at the 2019 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Friday, February 21.
 
In addition to outstanding performance on the field, candidates for the Doak Walker Award must have demonstrated records of leadership and exhibited the characteristics of sportsmanship and fair play associated with Doak Walker.