The Doak Walker Award announced this year’s 10 semifinalists. Audric Estime isn’t among the players in contention to be recognized as college football’s best running back.
Following Tuesday’s reveal, the Notre Dame star appeared to respond to his exclusion on social media.
“Bet,” Estime wrote.
Bet…
— Audric Estime (@AudricEstime) November 21, 2023
Estime has 1,103 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns during his junior season while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s the highest-graded running back in college football.
Highest graded Running Back this season:
☘️ Audric Estime, Notre Dame: 91.7 pic.twitter.com/zNRqcn6rHX
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 22, 2023
Yet 22 collegiate runners have accrued more handoffs, and usage appeared to play a heavy role in determining the nominees.
Every finalist except Michigan’s Blake Corum, who has 20 rushing touchdowns, has more rushing yards than Estime this season. Five of them are also averaging more yards per run.
Estime has recently shown what he can accomplish with an expanded workload. Having received more than 20 touches in each of the last four games, the 5-foot-11, 227-pound back has 464 total yards and seven touchdowns.
However, that torrid stretch apparently wasn’t enough to bolster his candidacy.
Tied with 15 touchdowns and an NCAA-leading 1,414 rushing yards, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II could be front-runners to take home the Doak Award. Bijan Robinson became the fifth Texas running back to receive the honor last season.
Three finalists will be revealed next week before announcing the winner during The College Football Awards on Dec. 8. Estime will look to prove why he deserved a spot at the table when closing Notre Dame’s regular season at Stanford this Saturday night.