University of North Texas Athletics
White Named to Doak Walker, Comeback Player of the Year and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch Lists
8/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
Senior RB honored among nation's best
DALLAS – UNT senior running back Jahiem White has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker, Comeback Player of the Year and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards.
White, a senior out of York, Pennsylvania, who transferred from West Virginia, had 16 starts in 27 appearances for the Mountaineers in the past three seasons and 1,879 yards and 14 touchdowns before arriving in Denton. He was a 2023 Freshman All-American from The Athletic, PFF and On3 and also earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors as a freshman. He's accounted for 2,200 all-purpose yards in his career as a receiving threat out of the backfield with 262 yards and three touchdowns on 27 receptions.
The Doak Walker award is given annually to the best running back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. White is one of 62 FBS running backs honored on the watch list. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced 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 December 10, 2026. The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.
The Comeback Player of the Year award has been awarded since 2018 to recognize college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is an award given annually to the "top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity." The award was established in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber of Commerce in Tyler, Texas and is presented by SPORTyler, Inc., in conjunction with the City of Tyler, the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. The recipient must have either played at a high school in Texas or currently be playing at a Division I institution in the state.
White, a senior out of York, Pennsylvania, who transferred from West Virginia, had 16 starts in 27 appearances for the Mountaineers in the past three seasons and 1,879 yards and 14 touchdowns before arriving in Denton. He was a 2023 Freshman All-American from The Athletic, PFF and On3 and also earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors as a freshman. He's accounted for 2,200 all-purpose yards in his career as a receiving threat out of the backfield with 262 yards and three touchdowns on 27 receptions.
The Doak Walker award is given annually to the best running back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. White is one of 62 FBS running backs honored on the watch list. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced 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 December 10, 2026. The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the week.
The Comeback Player of the Year award has been awarded since 2018 to recognize college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is an award given annually to the "top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity." The award was established in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber of Commerce in Tyler, Texas and is presented by SPORTyler, Inc., in conjunction with the City of Tyler, the Tyler Convention & Visitors Bureau and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. The recipient must have either played at a high school in Texas or currently be playing at a Division I institution in the state.
Players Mentioned
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