SDSU’s Lucky Sutton Named a Semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award

DALLAS -- San Diego State junior Lucky Sutton (San Diego) has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Tuesday. Sutton is one of 10 semifinalists for the award, which goes out to the top running back in the country.

Sutton is the first Aztec semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award since Rashaad Penny in 2017. Former Aztecs Donnel Pumphrey (2016), George Jones (1995) and Marshall Faulk (1993) have each been finalists for the award.

Sutton has rushed for 1,048 yards and eight touchdowns on 197 carries (5.3 avg.) this season, logging five 100-yard efforts in 10 games. Sutton is the 20th different Aztec with a 1,000-yard rushing season in program history (28th time overall).

Sutton ranks sixth in the country in rushing yards (1,048) and rushing yards per game (104.80). He leads the Mountain West in rushing yards (1,048), rushing yards per game (104.80), total rush attempts (197, T-7th in FBS), rush attempts per game (19.70, T-7th in FBS) and total all-purpose plays (199, 12th in FBS), and is tied for second in rushing touchdowns (8, T-50th in FBS), fourth in all-purpose yards (1,046, 38th in FBS), fifth in all-purpose yards per game (104.60, 40th in FBS) and rushing yards per carry (5.32, 53rd in FBS), and seventh in total touchdowns (8).

The three finalists for the 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced next Tuesday, and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, Dec. 12. The formal presentation of the award will take place at the annual banquet on Jan. 30, 2026, in Dallas.

Named after Doak Walker, a legendary figure in college football and the NFL, the Doak Walker Award presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum has been awarded to the nation’s top running back since 1990. A select 20-person committee from the award’s full voting body of media and past winners chooses the weekly recipient.