Northwestern University Athletics
Justin Jackson Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List
7/16/2015 9:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS – Northwestern running back Justin Jackson has been named a candidate for the 2015 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Thursday, July 16. The honor, named for SMU's three-time All-American, is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate running back.
Jackson will be a sophomore at NU in the fall after turning in a tremendous initial effort on the gridiron last fall. As a freshman, the Carol Stream, Ill., native collected All-Big Ten honorable mention in a league that was stacked at the position.
The 5-foot-11 back ran for 1,187 yards during his freshman season while finding the end zone 10 times. His was only the 16th 1,000-plus-yard performance in Northwestern history, and only the second by a first-year player. Jackson ran for more than 100 yards on six occasions with those efforts coming in five Big Ten games and against a ranked Notre Dame squad.
Earlier this month, Jackson was named to watch list for the Maxwell Award. The Maxwell Award has been bestowed upon the nation's top player each year since 1937.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award on Nov. 18, and three finalists on Nov. 24. The recipient of the award, now in its 26th season, will be unveiled at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
Jackson and the Wildcats begin the 2015 season on Sept. 5 when Stanford visits Ryan Field for the first time since 1994. Season tickets to enjoy Northwestern's entire seven-game slate at Ryan Field are on sale now. In addition to Stanford (Sept. 5), the Wildcats will host Eastern Illinois (Sept. 12) and Ball State (Sept. 26) in nonconference contests before welcoming Minnesota (Oct. 3), Iowa (Oct. 17), Penn State (Nov. 7) and Purdue (Nov. 14) in Big Ten action. Purchase season tickets today by calling the Northwestern Athletics ticket office at 888-GO-PURPLE (888-467-8775) or visiting NUsports.com.
Jackson will be a sophomore at NU in the fall after turning in a tremendous initial effort on the gridiron last fall. As a freshman, the Carol Stream, Ill., native collected All-Big Ten honorable mention in a league that was stacked at the position.
The 5-foot-11 back ran for 1,187 yards during his freshman season while finding the end zone 10 times. His was only the 16th 1,000-plus-yard performance in Northwestern history, and only the second by a first-year player. Jackson ran for more than 100 yards on six occasions with those efforts coming in five Big Ten games and against a ranked Notre Dame squad.
Earlier this month, Jackson was named to watch list for the Maxwell Award. The Maxwell Award has been bestowed upon the nation's top player each year since 1937.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award on Nov. 18, and three finalists on Nov. 24. The recipient of the award, now in its 26th season, will be unveiled at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
Jackson and the Wildcats begin the 2015 season on Sept. 5 when Stanford visits Ryan Field for the first time since 1994. Season tickets to enjoy Northwestern's entire seven-game slate at Ryan Field are on sale now. In addition to Stanford (Sept. 5), the Wildcats will host Eastern Illinois (Sept. 12) and Ball State (Sept. 26) in nonconference contests before welcoming Minnesota (Oct. 3), Iowa (Oct. 17), Penn State (Nov. 7) and Purdue (Nov. 14) in Big Ten action. Purchase season tickets today by calling the Northwestern Athletics ticket office at 888-GO-PURPLE (888-467-8775) or visiting NUsports.com.
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