USC's Vavae Malepeai, Keaontay Ingram Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List

LOS ANGELES — USC senior tailbacks Vavae Malepeai and Keaontay Ingram were named to the 2021 Watch List for the Doak Walker Award, given to college football's top running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

Ten semifinalists and then three finalists will be announced in November. The winner will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9.

Malepeai has 1,503 career rushing yards with 17 TDs along with 49 receptions. He led USC in 2020 with 238 rushing yards, including the late game-winning 8-yard TD at Arizona, and added 16 catches.

Ingram transferred to USC this spring from Texas, where in his 3 seasons he rushed for 1,811 yards and 11 TDs and caught 67 passes with 6 scores. Last fall, he ran for 250 yards on 53 carries (4.7 avg) with 1 TD and had 11 receptions for 103 yards (9.4 avg) with 1 TD.