Michigan State University Athletics
Cam Edwards Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
8/18/2026 2:44:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State fifth-year running back Cam Edwards has landed on another prominent watch list, this time earning recognition on the Doak Walker Award Watch List for the nation's most outstanding running back.
Earlier this month, Edwards was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Edwards, who played the last four seasons (2022-25) at UConn, posted career highs for rushing yards (1,240), rushing touchdowns (15), carries (210), receptions (19) and receiving yards (187) for the Huskies in 2025. He finished last year ranked among the FBS Top 25 leaders in six categories (tied for ninth in total TDs with 16; 13th in rushing TDs with 15; 15th in rushing yards with 1,240; 17th in rushing yards per game with 95.4 ypg; 22nd in all-purpose yards with 1,427; 23rd in yards per carry at 5.9).
The Norwalk, Connecticut, native concluded his UConn career ranked among the school's all-time leaders in rushing yards per carry (tied for first at 5.6), rushing yards (fifth with 2,690), rushing touchdowns (fifth with 27) and carries (ninth with 467) in 36 career games, including 23 starts. The 5-11, 206-pound Edwards, a third-team Group of Five All-American in 2025, led UConn in rushing three years in a row and has nine career 100-yard rushing performances. He transferred to Michigan State in January and competed for the Spartans in spring practice.
Edwards enters the 2026 season ranked among the FBS active leaders in rushing yards (fourth with 2,690) and rushing touchdowns (sixth with 27), according to CBS Sports.
Kenneth Walker III became the first Spartan to win the Doak Walker Award in 2021 during his lone season in East Lansing in which he ran for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns while earning unanimous first-team All-America honors.
Edwards and the Spartans will open the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo at 8 p.m. in East Lansing.
ABOUT THE DOAK WALKER AWARD
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum, which runs the Doak Walker Award, will have its Board of Directors name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced later in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, 2026.
Earlier this month, Edwards was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Edwards, who played the last four seasons (2022-25) at UConn, posted career highs for rushing yards (1,240), rushing touchdowns (15), carries (210), receptions (19) and receiving yards (187) for the Huskies in 2025. He finished last year ranked among the FBS Top 25 leaders in six categories (tied for ninth in total TDs with 16; 13th in rushing TDs with 15; 15th in rushing yards with 1,240; 17th in rushing yards per game with 95.4 ypg; 22nd in all-purpose yards with 1,427; 23rd in yards per carry at 5.9).
The Norwalk, Connecticut, native concluded his UConn career ranked among the school's all-time leaders in rushing yards per carry (tied for first at 5.6), rushing yards (fifth with 2,690), rushing touchdowns (fifth with 27) and carries (ninth with 467) in 36 career games, including 23 starts. The 5-11, 206-pound Edwards, a third-team Group of Five All-American in 2025, led UConn in rushing three years in a row and has nine career 100-yard rushing performances. He transferred to Michigan State in January and competed for the Spartans in spring practice.
Edwards enters the 2026 season ranked among the FBS active leaders in rushing yards (fourth with 2,690) and rushing touchdowns (sixth with 27), according to CBS Sports.
Kenneth Walker III became the first Spartan to win the Doak Walker Award in 2021 during his lone season in East Lansing in which he ran for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns while earning unanimous first-team All-America honors.
Edwards and the Spartans will open the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Toledo at 8 p.m. in East Lansing.
ABOUT THE DOAK WALKER AWARD
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum, which runs the Doak Walker Award, will have its Board of Directors name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced later in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10, 2026.
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