Completed Event: Football versus Arizona State on December 31, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 39
Football
42
vs Arizona State
39
Durant Selected to Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
7/21/2021 10:01:00 AM | Football
DURHAM – On Wednesday morning, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced that Duke running back Mataeo Durant was selected to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented to the nation's top running back each season.
The McCormick, S.C., native is charted as the starting running back for Duke after sharing snaps with former teammate Deon Jackson in 2020. Durant boasts 1,321 yards on 234 carries with nine scores in 32 career games. In addition, the senior has caught 28 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns. Entering the 2021 season, Durant's 1,321 career rushing yards rank 30th in program history.
Last year, Durant led the Blue Devils in rushing yards (817) and rushing touchdowns (eight) and was second on the team in scoring (54 points via nine touchdowns). His 817 rushing yards in 2020 rank in the top 15 in program history for a single season and stand third under head coach David Cutcliffe. Durant averaged 6.81 yards per rushing attempt (120-817) in 2020, the fourth highest in a season in program history.
Also in 2020, Durant recorded four games with 100-plus rushing yards, including a career-high 163 yards at Syracuse. In the game at Syracuse, he and Jackson became the first Duke duo to each rush for 150 yards in a single game.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2021 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Duke is set to kick off the 2021 season on Friday, September 3 at Charlotte. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
Duke Players on 2021 NCFAA Watch Lists
Maxwell Award: Mataeo Durant
Doak Walker Award: Mataeo Durant
#GoDuke
The McCormick, S.C., native is charted as the starting running back for Duke after sharing snaps with former teammate Deon Jackson in 2020. Durant boasts 1,321 yards on 234 carries with nine scores in 32 career games. In addition, the senior has caught 28 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns. Entering the 2021 season, Durant's 1,321 career rushing yards rank 30th in program history.
Last year, Durant led the Blue Devils in rushing yards (817) and rushing touchdowns (eight) and was second on the team in scoring (54 points via nine touchdowns). His 817 rushing yards in 2020 rank in the top 15 in program history for a single season and stand third under head coach David Cutcliffe. Durant averaged 6.81 yards per rushing attempt (120-817) in 2020, the fourth highest in a season in program history.
Also in 2020, Durant recorded four games with 100-plus rushing yards, including a career-high 163 yards at Syracuse. In the game at Syracuse, he and Jackson became the first Duke duo to each rush for 150 yards in a single game.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2021 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Duke is set to kick off the 2021 season on Friday, September 3 at Charlotte. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
Duke Players on 2021 NCFAA Watch Lists
Maxwell Award: Mataeo Durant
Doak Walker Award: Mataeo Durant
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballManny Diaz, Darian Mensah and Que'Sean Brown: Postgame Press Conference
Friday, January 02
Game Trailer: Arizona State
Wednesday, December 31
Coach Diaz Press Conference: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Tuesday, December 30
Coach Brewer and Coach Patke Press Conference: Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Monday, December 29
