Aug. 31, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State sophomore running back Lynell Hamilton is one of 43 players who have been named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, the SMU Athletic Forum has announced.
The Doak Walker Award, which is celebrating its 15th year, is awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate running back. It is the only award that requires student-athletes to be in good academic standing and be on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification. The recipient of the 2004 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN during the College Football Awards Show airing Dec. 9.
Hamilton, a 2003 first-team all conference selection and Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, is one of six sophomore running backs to be named to the list. He is one of two players from the MWC to be considered for the award.
Hamilton becomes the second Aztec in four years to be a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, joining 2001 semifinalist Larry Ned. Ned rushed for 1,549 yards and scored 15 touchdowns during his senior year.
Hamilton is the fifth Aztec to be named to a 2004 watch list. He joins senior tight end Jeremy Justice (Mackey), senior linebacker Kirk Morrison (Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, Nagurski), senior offensive lineman Mike Kracalik (Outland), and junior linebacker Matt McCoy (Butkus) as national honors candidates for the upcoming 2004 season.