TCU’s Tucker And Wesley Named Doak Walker Award Candidates

DALLAS — TCU’s Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley have been tabbed candidates for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.

TCU is one of just three schools to have more than one player on the candidate list.

Wesley was a semifinalist last year for the Doak Walker Award. Former TCU great LaDainian Tomlinson was the 2000 recipient.

Wesley, who also appears on the Maxwell Award Watch List, became the first Horned Frog since 2003 (Robert Merrill, 1,107) to top 1,000 yards when he ran for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

A junior from Irving, Texas, Wesley ran for more than 100 yards four times and reached the end zone in eight of TCU’s 13 games.

Wesley ran for a career-best and TCU season-high 209 yards, including two touchdowns, in a 38-7 win over Air Force. He single-handedly outrushed (209-184) a Falcon team that entered the game as the nation’s leading ground attack at 346.9 yards per game. It was the 24th 200-yard game in TCU history and the 20th-best single-game total.

Wesley ran for 134 yards against Oregon State and 165 versus Baylor. He also had a 115-yard effort in a win over Wyoming.

Wesley’s 1,731 yards in two seasons has him on pace to finish third all-time at TCU in career rushing.

Tucker, also a junior, placed second on TCU with 709 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on a 4.8 per carry mark. He ran for at least one score in six games.

Tucker rushed for a season-best 131 yards in a win over San Diego State. He added 87 and 74 yards in victories over Colorado State and Oregon State, respectively.

Tucker has totaled 1,385 yards in his first two seasons at TCU.