Already selected for a spot on the CFPA All-Purpose Trophy List, UCF senior running back Latavius Murray was named to his second preseason watch list, earning a place on the Doak Walker Award Watch List Thursday, announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Murray is one of 52 total candidates on this year’s list, with the award being presented to the country’s top running back.
Murray, who was named the Knights MVP last season, made a name for himself around the nation at the end of his junior season when he became a finalist for the nation’s Running Back Performance of the Year after racing for 233 yards on 21 attempts with two touchdowns, and also had two receptions for 24 yards and a touchdown in the final game of the season.
Murray appeared in all 12 games in 2011, starting the final two games of the year when he cemented himself as the Knights starter for 2012 with his eye-popping performances, amassing over 300 rushing yards in the two contests.
The 6’3″, 220-pound back finished the season with 549 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 242 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Murray has been a staple of the Knights running game over the last few years, ranking tied for fifth all-time at UCF with 22 rushing touchdowns, while he has 1,318 rushing yards on 255 attempts for a 5.2 average in his UCF career.
The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association, and the winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Dec. 6 on ESPN.
