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DALLAS – University of Missouri running back Cody Schrader was named one of three finalists for the 2023 Doak Walker National Collegiate Running Back Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.
Schrader, a former walk-on who started his career at Division II Truman State, is joined on the finalist list by Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.
Schrader, the Southeastern Conference’s leading rusher by more than 30 yards per game, has 1,499 yards on 247 carries, including earning the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor for his 205-yard performance vs. Tennessee the weekend of Nov. 11. The nation’s second-leading rusher has 13 rushing touchdowns and has scored in nine straight games after a 217-yard outing vs. Arkansas to close the regular season. Schrader is the second finalist from Mizzou in three years, joining Tyler Badie from 2021.
A finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, Schrader is a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week who has totaled eight 100-plus yard games, two 200-plus yard games and closed the regular season with five straight 100-yard games. He set an MU career-best with 217 yards in the regular-season finale at Arkansas – with 192 yards coming in the first half. Schrader had 205 yards rushing and 116 yards receiving against Tennessee and is the first SEC player to rush for 200+ yards and have 100-yards receiving in the same game.
Schrader needs 105 yards rushing to break Badie’s single-season MU record of 1,604 yards, set in 2021. With one yard rushing in the Tigers’ bowl game, Mizzou will feature a 3,000-yard passer (QB Brady Cook), a 1,000-yard receiver (WR Luther Burden III) and a 1,500-yard rusher (Schrader) for the first time in program history.
The winner of the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8 from 6-8 p.m. CT. The formal presentation of the award will take place on the SMU campus at the annual banquet scheduled for Feb. 16, 2024. The Doak Walker Award presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum has been awarded to the nation’s top running back since 1990.
The Tigers (10-2) will learn their postseason destination on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Mizzou fans can request their bowl tickets online.
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