RENO, Nev. – Nevada senior Vai Taua has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Doak Walker Award as announced Thursday by the PricewaterhouseCoopers SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors.
The Doak Walker Award is given annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back. Three finalists will be named on Nov. 22 live on ESPNU and the winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN on Dec. 9.
Taua (Lompoc, Calif.; Cabrillo HS) leads Nevada and is sixth nationally in rushing yards per game at 130.1 He recently went over the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season. He is also over the 4,000-yard mark for his career, just the fourth player in Nevada history to do and the fifth player in Western Athletic Conference history to hit that mark.
“It is a great feeling to be named a semifinalist for this prestigious award,” Taua said. “This is an honor that I share with all of my coaches and teammates, especially our offensive line. Without the Union up front, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Taua leads No. 21 Nevada into this week’s game at Fresno State with 1,041 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. He has also caught 11 passes for two more scores. He is fourth at Nevada and fifth in WAC history with 4,019 career rushing yards and he’s scored 37 career rushing touchdowns. He is fifth all-time at Nevada in career all-purpose yardage with 4,476 yards.
Taua is the only semifinalist from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference.
