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Buffaloes sophomore running back Christian Powell is one of a whopping NINE Pac-12 backs that have been selected to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The award is presented annually to the nation's top running back. Powell is one of eleven sophomores that made the list.
In his true freshman season the fullback came out of nowhere to lead the Buffs in rushing by a large margin. Powell finished the year having gained 716 yards on 158 carries with seven touchdowns. He broke 100 yards three different times including a fantastic debut in a 147 yard effort against Sacramento State in week two.
The 6'0, 240 lb. back showed a surprising burst and great feet in breaking tackles and getting the tough yards that Colorado has struggled with since Rodney Stewart graduated. He had some issues with concussions near the end of the season but has a bright future in Boulder.
Here's the full list:
Ameer Abdullah (Jr.), Nebraska
Michael Alisa (Sr.), BYU
Antonio Andrews (Sr.), Western
Kentucky
Dri Archer (Sr.), Kent State
Brendan Bigelow (Jr.), California
Beau Blankenship (Sr.), Ohio
Alfred Blue (Sr.), LSU
Dominique Brown (Jr.), Louisville
Ka'Deem Carey (Jr.), Arizona
B.J. Catalon (So.), TCU
Orleans Darkwa (Sr.), Tulane
Kenneth Dixon (So.), Louisiana Tech
Trayion Durham (Jr.), Kent State
Jahwan Edwards (Jr.), Ball State
David Fluellen (Sr.), Toledo
D.J. Foster (So.), Arizona State
Melvin Gordon (So.), Wisconsin
Marion Grice (Sr.), Arizona State
Todd Gurley (So.), Georgia
Joe Hill (Jr.), Utah State
John Hubert (Sr.), Kansas State
Carlos Hyde (Sr.), Ohio State
Waymon James (Sr.), TCU
Duke Johnson (So.), Miami
Storm Johnson (Jr.), UCF
Matt Jones (So.), Florida
Henry Josey (Jr.), Missouri
Ben Malena (Sr.), Texas A&M
Raymond Maples (Sr.), Army
Venric Mark (Sr.), Northwestern
Keith Marshall (So.), Georgia
Glasco Martin (Sr.), Baylor
Tre Mason (Jr.), Auburn
Lyle McCombs (Jr.), Connecticut
Adam Muema (Jr.), San Diego State
David Oku (Sr.), Arkansas State
Branden Oliver (Sr.), Buffalo
Jordan Parker (So.), Middle Tennessee
LaDarius Perkins (Sr.), Mississippi State
Senorise Perry (Sr.), Louisville
Christian Powell (So.), Colorado
Darrin Reaves (Jr.), UAB
Silas Redd (Sr.), USC
Bishop Sankey (Jr.), Washington
Lache Seastrunk (Jr.), Baylor
David Sims (Sr.), Georgia Tech
James Sims (Sr.), Kansas
Kiero Small (Sr.), Arkansas
Jeremy Smith (Sr.), Oklahoma State
Jerome Smith (Jr.), Syracuse
De'Anthony Thomas (Jr.), Oregon
Zurlon Tipton (Sr.), Central Michigan
Trey Watts (Sr.), Tulsa
Mark Weisman (Jr.), Iowa
James White (Sr.), Iowa State
James White (Sr.), Wisconsin
Andre Williams (Sr.), Boston College
Damien Williams (Sr.), Oklahoma
Jamaal Williams (So.), BYU
Jonathan Williams (Sr.), Arkansas
Storm Woods (So.), Oregon State
T.J. Yeldon (So.), Alabama
Zach Zwinak (Jr.), Penn State
Powell becomes the sixth Buffalo to be named to a preseason watch list.