Troy University Athletics
Kimani Vidal Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
7/21/2021 9:50:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Troy freshman running back Kimani Vidal has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top running back.
Vidal led the Trojans with 57.3 yards per game and four touchdowns on the ground in 2020. He averaged 3.83 yards after contact, which ranked second nationally among all freshmen running backs and 21st overall.
A Marietta, Ga., native, Vidal forced 0.30 missed tackles per attempt last season, which ranks fourth among all returning running backs nationally. He became Troy's first true freshman to rush for 100-yards in back-to-back games after topping the century mark against Texas State (106) and Eastern Kentucky (143). Vidal's 106-yard game against Texas State was the first 100-yard game by a true freshman at Troy since 2009, and he became just the third true freshman in school history to do so.
Success followed the Trojans when he carried the rock as Troy finished 5-1 when he recorded at least nine carries in a game. Vidal was also a versatile threat catching 26 passes for 225 yards on the season. He finished the season as the fourth-highest-rated running back per Pro Football Focus when it came to catching the ball out of the backfield with an 83.9 rating – highest in the Group of Five.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will 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 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Carlton Martial
No. 41 Player in the Country – Pro Football Focus
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Kimani Vidal
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Players Mentioned
LB
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RB
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