Markell Jones, who nearly rushed for 900 yards as a true freshman last season, is among 76 candidates on the Doak Walker Award watch list.
The award, given to the nation’s top running back, will name 10 semifinalists on Nov. 16. The list will be narrowed to three finalists before the winner is announced Dec. 8.
On 168 carries, Johnson rushed for a Purdue-freshman record 875 yards — a 5.2-yard-per-carry average — and 10 touchdowns last season. He also caught 34 passes for 239 yards.
He earned team offensive MVP honors for at the postseason banquet, after which he said, "I think I can improve. Now, I’ve got a bar that’s been set for myself. I know what other guys in the country are doing, so now I want to be up there in that type of category. The type of talks like New York (Heisman presentation) talks. I like to set a high standard for myself and a high bar. I’m going to set my mind to achieve that."
Jones certainly should have a chance in 2016: His load should be even heftier than his rookie year with D.J. Knox on the shelf after ACL surgery.
Coaches expect Jones to not only to get the bulk of the carries but rarely miss snaps. That challenge, then, knowing he's "the man" is fighting complacency, running backs coach DeAndre Smith said this spring.
"It’s the difference between good and great," Smith said. "He’s a good player. Do you want to be great? Great players really work at it to become that. That’s where he is.
"But he has a chance to be pretty special. No question about it."
Jones is among nine Big Ten backs who made the first list. They are Penn State’s Saquon Barkley, Minnesota’s Shannon Brooks, Wisconsin’s Corey Clement, Iowa’s LeShun Daniels Jr., Nebraska’s Terrell Newby, Indiana’s Devine Redding, Michigan’s De’Veon Smith and Illinois’ Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
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