KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas State junior running back Alex Barnes had been selected to the preseason watch list for the 2018 Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the best running back in college football.
Barnes, who also was picked Monday for the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, is one of 62 players identified for preseason consideration for the Doak Walker Award.
Since 1992, the Wildcats have had 16 running backs up for the Doak Walker Award — including Darren Sproles, who was a finalist in 2003, and Daniel Thomas, who was a semifinalist in 2010.
As a sophomore, Barnes racked up 146 carries for 819 yards with seven touchdowns. His 5.61-yard average per carry ranked fifth in K-State history.
Barnes — who reached 1,000 career yards in 152 carries, the second-fastest running back in Wildcats history (Sproles, 147 carries) — also was picked for the preseason All-Big 12 team by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
K-State opens the season at 6:10 p.m. on Sept. 1 against South Dakota at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
