UCF RB Duke Watson Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
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The list of UCF Knights named to watch lists is growing larger by the week, as running back Duke Watson was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List on Tuesday afternoon.
The Doak Walker Award is handed to the nation's top running back. Established in 1990, it's named after legendary Southern Methodist rusher Doak Walker, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1948.
Watson led the country with 8.9 yards per carry during his freshman season at Louisville in 2024. He finished second on the team in yards (597) and touchdowns (seven) behind Isaac Brown.
Injuries limited him throughout his sophomore season, as he rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown. After such regression, Watson entered the transfer portal in January.
UCF received a visit from the Louisville transfer, and made a lasting first impression. Watson said coach Scott Frost and running backs coach Jimmy Beal made the campus feel like home the moment he arrived.
He also shares history with Trent Mossbrucker, the general manager of football player personnel. Mossbrucker served as the recruiting coordinator for Louisville from 2023-24.
Those connections helped the Knights bolster their running back depth after Jaden Nixon and Myles Montgomery's eligibility expired. The duo combined for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
UCF's wide zone run scheme complements Watson's style. He said his goal is to get north when he's rushing from side to side.
In 2024, the 5-foot-11 running back always found the open gaps to burst through. His sharp change of direction forced defenders to miss tackles.
The Knights will need similar production to replicate one half of the dynamic duo they had last season. Nixon's speed contributed to big plays, like a season-long 87-yard run against North Carolina A&T on Sept. 6.
Watson continues the trend of Knights nominated to the Doak Walker Award watch list. Montgomery and Nixon were tabbed last season, and RJ Harvey earned back-to-back semifinalist nods in his junior and senior seasons.
He joins his teammates quarterback Alonza Barnett III (Maxwell Award), tight end Dylan Wade (Mackey Award), offensive lineman Owen Spell (Wuerffel Trophy) and linebacker Jahleel Culbreath (Butkus Award).
UCF players are earning national recognition for these awards, but media outlets don't have high expectations for the program. The players are aware of the outside noise and want to prove the doubters wrong.
They all have a chip on their shoulder to give the Knights their first winning season since 2023, and potentially their first conference title.
"I'm ready to show the world what this team really got," Watson said after last Wednesday's scrimmage. "Not more on me, like just really ready to see what the team got."
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