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Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Atlantic Coast Conference running backs Omarion Hampton of North Carolina and Brashard Smith of SMU have been named two of the 10 semifinalists for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Tuesday.
The Doak Walker Award presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum has been awarded to the nation’s top running back since 1990.
Hampton, who was a semifinalist for the award last year, leads the ACC and ranks second nationally with 1,422 rushing yards and an average of 142.2 rushing yards per game this season. Hampton, who has rushed for over 100 yards in nine of the 10 games this season, including each of the last eight games, the second-most in ACC history, leads the ACC and ranks 11th nationally in rushing touchdowns (14) and total touchdowns (15). Hampton became just the third Tar Heel with three 200-rushing yard games in his career following career-highs of 244 rushing yards and 35 carries in a win over Wake Forest last week.
Smith has been a key part of SMU’s success this season, helping lead the Mustangs to a 9-1 overall record and a 6-0 mark in ACC play. Smith became just the 12th SMU player to have a 1,000-yard season with his 1,026 rushing yards so far this year, which includes six 100-yard games on the year. Smith is one of just seven FBS players with 1,000 rushing and 200-plus receiving yards on the season, and along with his 243 kickoff return yards, he is the only player in the FBS with 1,000-plus rushing, 200-plus receiving and 200-plus kickoff return yards this year. He ranks sixth nationally with an average of 147.0 all-purpose yards per…
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