Kelton Moore, a junior for the Nevada football team, has been named to the initial watch list for the 2018 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced today.

The Doak Walker Award is given annually to the nation’s top running back.

Moore burst on to the scene in 2017, rushing for 855 yards and four touchdowns for the Wolf Pack. He also caught 19 passes for nearly 200 yards and another score, and threw a 57-yard touchdown pass during the season.

The award, which will name its 29th recipient in 2018, is named for SMU’s three-time All-America 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.

Moore is one of just three players from the Mountain West on the watch list, joining players from Boise State and UNLV. The watch list includes last year’s winner, Bryce Love of Stanford.

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 on November 20. The committee will cast a second vote beginning November 26 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 2018 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 6 on ESPN.