Wednesday Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter was announced as a candidate for the 2010 Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.

The senior from Tyler, Texas, Hunter was a first-team All-American and also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors as a sophomore in 2008 after ranking seventh nationally in rushing with 119.6 yards per game. He racked up 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns carrying the football in ’08 and recorded nine 100-yard rushing games.

Hampered by injury, Hunter started just two games in 2009, but for his career, he averages more than six yards per carry and has 21 rushing touchdowns. He was named to The Sporting News’ All-Big 12 Freshman Team in 2007 and ranks 10th in school history with 2,633 career rushing yards.
 
The PricewaterhouseCoopers SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on November 10, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on November 22. The Committee will cast a second vote beginning on November 29 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2010 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Thursday, December 9. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas, in February 2011.

The award, in its 21st year, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray was also named to the list.