November 22, 2022 – Illinois star Chase Brown has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, the award’s committee announced Monday. The Doak Walker Award honors the nation’s best running back.
Following one of the most impressive games of his career at #3 Michigan, Brown maintained his national lead in rushing yards with 1,582 on the year. He has been the nation’s leader for 11 consecutive weeks, and also leads the nation in all-purpose yards (1,779), rushes of 10+ yards (45), 100-yard games (10), and rushing attempts per game (28.1).
Against a defensive unit leading the nation in rushing defense (72.7), Brown ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns at #3 Michigan. He was just the third running back to rush for over 140 yards at Michigan Stadium during Jim Harbaugh’s tenure (2015-), joining Ohio State stars J.K. Dobbins (2019) and Ezekiel Elliott (2015).
Entering the final game of the regular season, Brown is 116 rushing yards away from breaking the Illinois single-season rushing record and 221 all-purpose yards away from becoming the first Illini in history to gain 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season. Brown’s 10th 100-yard rushing game of the season at Michigan set Illinois’ single-season record and tied him with Robert Holcombe for the most 100-yard games of an Illini career with 16.
Brown also ranks among the national leaders in forced missed tackles (4th, 74), yards after contact (5th, 903), and first down runs (6th, 75), according to PFF. He is aiming to be Illinois’ first ever Doak Walker Award winner as the best running back in the nation.
Doak Walker Award Semifinalists
- Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
- Chase Brown, Illinois
- Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
- Blake Corum, Michigan
- Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota
- Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
- DeWayne McBride, UAB
- Kendre Miller, TCU
- Bijan Robinson, Texas
- Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
