Big Ten places nine on Doak Walker watch list

Watch list season is yet another indication that college football is right around the corner. On Thursday, the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's top running back, was released. The Big Ten placed nine running backs on the list with no true frontrunner.

Wisconsin senior Corey Clement finds himself on the list for the second consecutive season. Last year, he ran for a disappointing 221 yards on just 48 attempts. He was considered a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, but barely played due to injury and disciplinary reasons. If Clement is able to turn things around in his senior season, he could become the third Badger to win the Doak Walker Award since 2012. Melvin Gordon won the award in Clement's sophomore season in 2014, and Monte Ball took home the honors in 2012.

Pushing Clement for the award this season from the Big Ten will be Penn State's returning 1,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley. As a freshman, Barkley stepped up twice on the big stage with 194 yards at Ohio State and 103 yards at Michigan State. Another returning 1,000-yard rusher on the list is Indiana junior Devine Redding, who broke out for 227 rushing yards in the Hoosiers' overtime loss to Duke in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Rounding out the Doak Walker contenders from the Big Ten are Illinois sophomore Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Iowa senior LeShun Daniels, Jr., Michigan senior De'Veon Smith, Minnesota sophomore Shannon Brooks, Nebraska junior Terrell Newby and Purdue sophomore Markell Jones.

The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's top running back. This year, the winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8 on ESPN.