EUGENE — Oregon’s running back duo has garnered some preseason accolades.
Sophomores CJ Verdell and Travis Dye are among 72 players on the Doak Walker award watch list Wednesday, making Oregon one of eight teams with multiple players on the list.
Verdell had 1,018 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and 315 receiving yards and two scores last season, making him one of only two FBS players to reach those production marks and the only one returning this season. Dye had 739 rushing yards and four touchdowns last season with three 100-yard games in Pac-12 play.
Oregon’s LaMichael James won the 2010 Doak Walker award, which since 1990 has been presented to the nation’s top running back. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor won it last year.
The 10 semifinalists will be named on in November and the three finalists will be named Nov. 20. The 2019 Doak Walker Award winner will be announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN on Dec. 12.
Verdell and Dye are the third and fourth Oregon players named to a preseason watch list. Justin Herbert was on watch lists the Maxwell and O’Brien awards and Troy Dye was on the watch lists for the Bednarik award and Lott Trophy.