Hart Named Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
11/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
DALLAS, Texas -- The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors announced today (Nov. 16) that University of Michigan junior running back Mike Hart (Syracuse NY/Onondaga Central HS) is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2006 Doak Walker Award. The annual award is presented to the nation's premiere running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community. The only other semifinalist from the Big Ten is Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill.
Hart ranks fourth in the nation with 1,373 rushing yards on 278 carries. He has scored a career-best 11 rushing touchdowns this season and has reached the end zone in eight of the 11 contests. Hart travels to Ohio State needing 83 yards to pass his previous career-high in rushing yards (1,455) obtained during his true freshman year. The junior tailback also has 13 receptions for 122 receiving yards. Hart is 97 yards away for cracking the top five for all-time rushing yards in a season by a Wolverine.
Hart has been a stalwart in the rushing attack since his first year on campus. He set Michigan's all-time record for rushing yards by a freshman, with 1,455 in 2004. Now in his third year, Hart is 324 yards away from joining the top five all-time career rushing leaders at U-M. His career totals are 3,490 rushing yards, 513 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. Hart needs one score to break into the top 15 on Michigans all-time career touchdown list.
The list of semifinalists will be trimmed to three finalists on Nov. 21. The winner of the award will be announced during the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7. The official presentation of the Doak Walker Award will be at a formal banquet in Dallas on Feb. 15, 2007.
Following is a list of semifinalists for the 2006 Doak Walker Award:
James Davis, So., Clemson
Mike Hart, Jr., Michigan
P.J. Hill, Fr., Wisconsin
Ian Johnson, So., Boise State
Marshawn Lynch, Jr., California
Darren McFadden, So., Arkansas
Adrian Peterson, Jr., Oklahoma
Ray Rice, So., Rutgers
Steve Slaton, So., West Virginia
Garrett Wolfe, Sr., Northern Illinois
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
