Nov. 11, 2011
DALLAS - San Diego State sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman (La Habra, Calif.) has been named one of the 10 semifinalists for the 2011 Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. Hillman is the second Aztec to be tabbed a semifinalist for the honor, joining former standout Larry Ned (2001).
Hillman is one of three sophomores and one of two running backs from non-automatic BCS qualifying conferences among the semifinalists. He is the first Aztec to advance to the semifinal round for a national award since wide receiver Vincent Brown was up for the Biletnikoff Award in 2009.
Currently, the 5-foot-10 sophomore ranks second nationally in rushing (149.75 ypg.), eighth in all-purpose yards (175.75 ypg) and 11th in scoring (10.50 ppg.). The three-time league player of the week has reached the century mark on the ground in seven of the team's eight outings for his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2011. Hillman's 305 all-purpose yards against Wyoming set a Mountain West Conference game record and his 99-yard effort vs. the Cowboys is the longest play from scrimmage in school history.
In just 21 career outings, Hillman already has 13, 100-yard rushing games, 10, 150-yard rushing contests and three, 200-yard efforts. His career totals include 2,730 rushing yards on 461 carries with 30 rushing touchdowns. He was named a Freshman All-American, MWC Freshman of the Year and Poinsettia Bowl Offensive MVP last season when he ran for 1,532 yards and 17 scores.
This past July, Hillman was one of 52 running backs on the preseason list for the Doak Walker Award, becoming the third San Diego State player to be named a candidate. Lynell Hamilton was a preseason pick in both 2004 and 2005, while Ned was a semifinalist in 2001 after rushing for 1,549 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
The current list of 10 semifinalists will be reduced to three finalists which will be released on Monday, Nov. 21. The winner will be announced live on ESPN along with other National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8. The accolade will be officially presented at a banquet in February 2012 in Dallas.
The Doak Walker Award, now in its 22nd 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.
Hillman and the rest of the Aztecs are traveling to Fort Collins, Colo., for their Mountain West game on Saturday against Colorado State, beginning at 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT.
Doak Walker Award SemifinalistsMontee Ball (Jr.) WisconsinRex Burkhead (Jr.) NebraskaRonnie Hillman (So.) San Diego StateLaMichael James (Jr.) OregonHenry Josey (So.) MissouriZach Line (Jr.) SMUChris Polk (Jr.) WashingtonJoseph Randle (So.) Oklahoma StateTrent Richardson (Jr.) AlabamaDavid Wilson (Jr.) Virginia Tech