Running Back Orleans Darkwa Named To Walker Watchlist
Jul 15, 2011 | Football
July 15, 2011
Video Highlights of Tulane RB O.Darkwa
NEW ORLEANS - For the second time this week, a member of the Tulane University football team has been mentioned among the nation's elite as sophomore running back Orleans Darkwa was named to the 2011 Doak Walker Award Watchlist, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Friday.
Named in honor of former All-American and Hall of Fame inductee Doak Walker, the award is presented annually to the nation's top running back. Darkwa was named to the watchlist after setting a Tulane freshman rushing record a year ago by tallying 925 yards and 11 touchdowns on 184 carries (5.0 avg.). In addition, Darkwa caught 17 passes for 155 yards, threw two scoring strikes of his own and returned eight kickoffs for 150 yards.
Darkwa is one of five Conference USA student-athletes to earn a spot on the 2011 Doak Walker Award's preseason list, joining Bryce Beal of Houston, Zach Line of SMU, Sam McGuffie of Rice and Pat Shed of UAB. In addition, Darkwa is one of two players from a Louisiana school to earn a spot on the watchlist along with Louisiana Tech's Lennon Creer.
As a true freshman last season, the native of Nashville, Tenn., led the Green Wave in rushing attempts (184), yards (925), yards per carry (5.0) and touchdowns (11) while his 1,230 all-purpose yards also paced the squad. His rushing total from the 2010 season surpassed the former Tulane rookie rushing record of 890 set by current Pittsburgh Steeler Mewelde Moore back in 2000.
Darkwa finished second on the team in points scored with 68, adding a two-point conversion run to his rushing touchdown total. He also finished the year sixth on the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (155). His 84.1 rushing yards per game ranked second in C-USA and 44th in the NCAA and his 110.5 all-purpose yards per game was eighth in the league and 60th in the nation. Darkwa's rushing average was fourth nationally among freshmen running backs and his all-purpose mark sat sixth among all Division I-Bowl Subdivision rookies.
For his efforts, Darkwa was named third team Freshman All-American and first-team All C-USA by Phil Steele, claimed second-team All C-USA and C-USA All-Freshman Team honors on a vote of league coaches and media, and was tabbed second-team All-Louisiana by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Darkwa burst onto the college scene in the 2010 season opener by scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 75 yards on 19 carries in the Green Wave's 27-21 win over Southeastern Louisiana. After splitting time over the next five weeks and missing a game due to injury, he posted his first 100-yard rushing effort with a 114-yard, two-touchdown day in Tulane's 34-24 win at UTEP on Oct. 23.
That was the first of five consecutive 100-yard outings for Darkwa as he had 193 yards on 29 carries against SMU, 138 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Miss, 113 yards vs. Rice and 129 yards and a score against UCF. In the season finale at Marshall, Darkwa capped a spectacular freshman campaign by rushing for 65 yards and two touchdowns while hauling in a career-best seven passes for 64 yards against the Thundering Herd.
The Doak Walker Award dates back to 1990 and its previous winners include Heisman Trophy winners Rashaan Salaam (Colorado, 1994), Eddie George (Ohio State, 1995), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1999) and Reggie Bush (USC, 2005) along with two-time winners Ricky Williams (Texas, 1997 and 1998) and Darren McFadden (Arkansas, 2006 and 2007).
The award's namesake was the face of college football during his career at SMU in the late 1940s. During his time with the Mustangs, the versatile Walker - who also punted, returned punts and kickoffs, and kicked extra points - earned All-America honors in 1947, 1948 and 1949. After starting as a freshman in 1945, he missed the 1946 season due to his service in the Army. By his junior season, his exploits on the field became legendary and Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1948.
Walker completed his degree on schedule and was began his pro career with the Detroit Lions in 1950. As a rookie, he led the NFL in scoring with 128 points. During his six years with the Lions, Walker led the team to NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953, was named to five Pro Bowls and claimed All-Pro honors four times.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Prior to the 2000 season, Walkers' jersey No. 37 was the sole number in the history of SMU athletics to be retired.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name the semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award on Nov. 11, and the selection committee will cast votes to determine the finalist, which will be announced on Nov. 21. The committee will cast a second vote on Nov. 28 to determine the winner, which will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8 on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas in Feb. 2012.
