Caleb Hawkins on Yet Another Best Player in the Country Watchlist

STILLWATER — Plenty of eyes will be on Cowboy running back Caleb Hawkins this fall, including Walter Camp voters, after he landed on the watchlist for the 2026 award given to the nation’s best player on Monday.

The running back who set an NCAA record for most touchdowns ever scored by a freshman last season (29) is one of 50 total players. The entire list includes only 11 running backs, putting him among the sport’s elite.

Ten semifinalists for the 2026 Walter Camp Award will be released in early November, with the final three announcements expected to follow in early December.

It’s been a busy offseason for Hawkins, who was previously named to the official watch list for the Maxwell Award, also given to the nation’s best player, alongside quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Despite high expectations, or perhaps to protect those, coach Eric Morris hopes to lighten the sophomore’s workload this fall compared to last year’s rate at North Texas.

In his first season of college football in 2025, Hawkins finished with 1,434 rushing yards and 370 receiving yards to go with those 29 touchdowns. After carrying the ball only 13 times in North Texas’ first three games, Hawkins finished the year with six games of at least 100 rushing yards, including a season-high 198 in the Mean Green’s Bowl win against San Diego State.