Oklahoma State One of Rare Offenses with Both RBs and WRs on Watchlists for Major College Football Awards

STILLWATER — Somehow Oklahoma State’s offense already feels like it has surpassed last season’s despite not playing a single game.

​The Cowboys started this week as one of 14 schools in the nation with players on the watchlist for both the Doak Walker Award (best running back) and the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver).

The other schools include seven playoff participants from last year and, perhaps more relevant, seven teams ranked in the preseason top 25 AP Poll.

Here’s the list:

No. 1 Ohio State
No. 2 Oregon
No. 5 Texas
No. 6 Indiana
No. 7 Miami
No. 12 Texas Tech
No. 23 Houston
California
Kansas
Florida State
Illinois
Oklahoma State
Virginia Tech
Florida Atlantic

​At first glance, there are some teams that surprise more than others, but generally Oklahoma State’s spot on both of these lists is yet another sign that the Cowboys could field one of the best offenses in the country this fall.

Oklahoma State running back Caleb Hawkins was one of 10 semifinalists last season for the Doak Walker Award, so his spot on the list shouldn’t be a surprise.

Reigning winner Jeremiyah Love is off to the NFL, but fellow finalists Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss) and Ahmad Hardy (Missouri) are back.

Here is how those two returners compared to Hawkins at the end of the regular season.

Hawkins: 1,216 rushing yards, 23 rushing TDs, averaging 6.3 yards per carry; 334 receiving yards and three additional touchdowns

Hardy: 1,560 rushing yards, 16 rushing TDs, averaging 6.5 yards per carry; 22 receiving yards

Lacy: 1,279 rushing yards, 20 rushing TDs, averaging 5 yards per carry; 154 receiving yards

When factoring in his receiving stats, Hawkins has an argument. If he can produce similar results against power conference opponents, then perhaps he will find himself among the top three this fall.

Receiver Wyatt Young represented the Cowboys on the Biletnikoff list. Only one finalist is back: Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Here is how he compared to Young at the end of the regular season.

Young: 63 receptions for 1,203 yards and 10 TDs; three rushes for 16 yards and 1 TD

Smith: 72 receptions for 942 yards and 11 TDs; two carries for 20 yards and 1 TD

So this too feels like another spot where Young, or whichever Cowboys receiver emerges as the No. 1 option, could shine and potentially finish as a finalist.

Finally, here is Oklahoma State’s schedule this fall broken down by Doak Walker, Biletnikoff Award contenders.

Sept. 5 at Tulsa
Sept. 12 vs Oregon: RB Jordon Davison, WR Iverson Hooks, TE Jamari Johnson (also up for Biletnikoff)
Sept. 19 vs Murray State
Sept. 26 at West Virginia: RB Cam Cook
BYE
Oct. 10 vs UCF: RB Duke Watson
Oct. 17 at Houston: RB Makhi Hughes, WR Amare Thomas, WR Trent Walker
Oct. 24 vs Colorado: WR Kam Perry, WR Danny Scudero
Oct. 31 at Iowa State
Nov. 7 at Kansas State
Nov. 14 vs Texas Tech: RB Cameron Dickey, TE Terrance Carter Jr. (Biletnikoff)
Nov. 21 at Arizona State: WR Omarion Miller
Nov. 28 vs Kansas: RB Dylan Edwards, RB Yasin Willis, WR Nik McMillan