DALLAS — Oregon’s Jordan James and Noah Whittington have been included on the preseason watch list for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding college running back.
Oregon is one of 10 schools with multiple running backs on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Ten semifinalists for the honor will be named in November, followed by the announcement of three finalists later that month. The recipient of the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, 2024.
UO has had a semifinalist or better for the Doak Walker Award six times in program history, and LaMichael James became the first Duck to take home the honor in 2010.
Jordan James played in all 14 games for the Ducks as a sophomore in 2023, racking up 759 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 107 carries. His 7.09 yards per carry led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th nationally, and his 11 rushing touchdowns tied for most on the team and third-most in the conference. James led all FBS running backs with a stellar 94.8 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus, and ranked eighth with a 92.0 overall grade.
Whittington utilized a medical redshirt in 2023, playing in Oregon’s first four games before sustaining a season-ending injury. In four games, he rushed 20 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns while adding 10 receptions for 78 yards. Whittington was dynamic out of the backfield for the Ducks in 2022, rushing for a career-high 779 yards and five touchdowns on 139 carries while catching 22 passes for 169 yards and a score. The Ducks will hold their sixth fall practice on Tuesday afternoon, and first in full pads. Oregon will open its inaugural season as members of the Big Ten Conference against Idaho on Aug. 31 in Autzen Stadium (4:30 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network).
