Tahj Brooks named to Doak Walker Award preseason watchlist

Much is expected of Texas Tech senior running back Tahj Brooks this year. After a 1,500-yard season in 2023, he's just over 1,100 yards shy of breaking the school's all-time rushing record and he will be the focal point of the Red Raider offensive attack again in 2024.

That's why it was no shock to see the Manor, Texas native added to the 2024 Doak Walker Award Preseason watchlist on Tuesday.

The Doak Walker Award is given annually to the best collegiate running back in America. The prestigious award was created in 1989 and named for the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner and three-time All-America selection from SMU.

But if Brooks wants to win this award, he's going to have to have another huge year. Last year's winner, Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State is back for another season of college football after putting up 2,062 yards from scrimmage in 2023.

Also on this year's watchlist are 2023 finalist Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) and 2023 semifinalists Marcus Carroll (Missouri), R.J. Harvey (UCF), and Damien Martinez (Miami).

According to a statement from the Doak Walker Award, "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 also 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 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College
Football Awards on December 12, 2024."

Though Brooks is one of the top running backs in the country, he won't be the favorite to win this year's award. That's because he likely won't have as many touches this year as he did a season ago, and that's actually a positive development for Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders don't want to give Brooks 290 carries again this year. That's simply too many for any running back to have to shoulder.

What's more, a healthy Behren Morton at quarterback should mean that Tech won't have to be as run-game dominant as the 2023 offense was. Also, new wide receiver additions Josh Kelly, Caleb Douglas, and Micah Hudson, along with transfer tight end Jalin Conyers from Arizona State will give this year's attack more options than the Red Raiders had last fall.

So don't be shocked to see Brooks' total yardage output decline this year. Though he'll still be the best player on the offense, he won't have to carry the load all by himself like he had to do on so many Saturdays a year ago.

However, Brooks has positioned himself as one of the best RBs in college football and he's being recognized as a potential Doak Walker winner. He recently said that winning the award is one of his goals for this season so we probably would be wise not to count him out.