Newton Hasn't Started UW Game, But He's on Doak Walker Award Watch List

Richard Newton hasn't started a college football game yet.

In fact, he's played in just 10 of them.

He's run for just under 500 yards.

His longest carry is 23 yards

Yet other people can see the immense potential in this University of Washington running back, a sophomore from Lancaster, California, not needing a more detailed resume from Newton to salute him.

On Wednesday, Newton was one of 76 ball-carriers named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, an honor bestowed on the nation's top running back.

After a baptismal season backing up Salvon Ahmed, the 6-foot, 208-pound Newton is fully expected to become the Huskies' No. 1 back whenever a season resumes during the pandemic (Ahmed is shown in the accompanying video, discussing his teammate).

If all goes well, maybe Newton can make a serious run at winning the 31st Doak Walker Award.

It's not all that farfetched that it could go to a Washington back.

A Husky won the first Doak — Greg Lewis in 1990.

Newton, who rushed for 498 yards on 117 carries and scored 11 touchdowns, is joined on the watch list by nine other Pac-12 backs: WSU junior Matt Borghi, Arizona senior Gary Brightwell, California junior Christopher Brown, USC senior Stephen Carr and senior Vavae Malipeai, UCLA senior Demetric Felton, Colorado junior Alex Fontenot, Oregon State junior Jemar Jefferson and Oregon junior CJ Verdell.

Doak Walker was a three-time All-American for SMU and the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner. As an NFL player, he was a four-time All-Pro and had the Detroit Lions retire his No. 37.

Walker awarded Lewis the first trophy with his name on it in Dallas back in 1990. Eight years later, he died from complications following a tragic Colorado ski accident. He was 71.