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Taylor, Turner Named Preseason Candidates for 2025 Doak Walker Award
8/5/2025 11:03:00 AM | Football
The Doak Walker Award is presented to the nation’s most outstanding college running back
University of Minnesota running backs Darius Taylor and A.J. Turner were named preseason candidates for the 2025 Doak Walker Award today by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back.
Taylor Started 11 of the 12 games he played in last season and rushed 205 times for 986 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. He also caught a running-back school record 54 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed one pass for a 10-yard touchdown. Taylor led Minnesota last year with 1,336 all-purpose yards.
For his career, Taylor has played in 18 games and has carried the ball 343 times for 1,785 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also catching 65 passes for 443 yards and two scores.
Turner enrolled at Minnesota in January after spending three seasons at Marshall. While at Marshall, he played in 22 games and rushed 127 times for 984 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2024, he rushed 104 times for 864 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching eight passes for 68 yards and two scores. Turner had two touchdown runs of more than 80 yards and had four 100-yard rushing games, as he was named an All-SBC Second Team Running Back.
Taylor, Turner and their Minnesota teammates start the season on Aug. 28 when they host Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium.
The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back.
Taylor Started 11 of the 12 games he played in last season and rushed 205 times for 986 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. He also caught a running-back school record 54 passes for 350 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed one pass for a 10-yard touchdown. Taylor led Minnesota last year with 1,336 all-purpose yards.
For his career, Taylor has played in 18 games and has carried the ball 343 times for 1,785 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also catching 65 passes for 443 yards and two scores.
Turner enrolled at Minnesota in January after spending three seasons at Marshall. While at Marshall, he played in 22 games and rushed 127 times for 984 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2024, he rushed 104 times for 864 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching eight passes for 68 yards and two scores. Turner had two touchdown runs of more than 80 yards and had four 100-yard rushing games, as he was named an All-SBC Second Team Running Back.
Taylor, Turner and their Minnesota teammates start the season on Aug. 28 when they host Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium.
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