Wyoming sophomore running back Samuel 鈥淭ote鈥� Harris has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, recognizing him as one of the nation鈥檚 top college running backs. Earlier in August, he also made it onto the Maxwell Award Watch List and was a preseason All-Mountain West selection. Last season, Harris led Wyoming with 558 rushing yards, and he added notable performances, including a career-high 126 yards against Colorado. The Doak Walker Award will announce its ten semifinalists in November, culminating in the announcement of the recipient during The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10, 2026.

By the Numbers
  • 558 rushing yards last season on 100 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per rush.
  • 126 rushing yards in a single game against Colorado, including a 50-yard career-long rush.
State of Play
  • The preseason Doak Walker Award watch list has several notable names, including 2025 finalists Ahmad Hardy and Kewan Lacy.
  • The National Selection Committee, comprising past award recipients and media members, will evaluate candidates throughout the season.
What's Next

Following the preseason recognition, Harris will be aiming to maintain strong performances to solidify his candidacy for the Doak Walker Award. With semifinalists announced in November, ongoing evaluations will play a critical role in determining who advances in the award race.

Bottom Line

Samuel 鈥淭ote鈥� Harris is positioned as a key player to watch this college football season, blending impressive stats from the previous year with early accolades that set a promising stage for a potential standout season in 2026.