Marlon Mack on Doak Walker Award Watch List

Second national award watch list for sophomore who led American Conference in rushing last season

TAMPA,FLA.– USF sophomore running back Marlon Mack (Sarasota) has been named to the 2015 Doak Walker Award Watch list as one of the top running backs in college football. A member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), the Doak Walker Award, in its 26^th season, is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate running back.

Mack’s placement on the Doak Walker Award Watch List places the Bulls on four national award watch lists prior to the 2015 season. Mack had previously been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List and is joined by senior tight end Sean Price (Citra), Mackey Award Watch List, and senior punter Mattias Ciabatti (Tampa), Ray Guy Award Watch List, among the three Bulls represented on preseason watch lists.

Mack, who led the American Athletic Conference in rushing with 1,041 yards in his freshman campaign, was one of four players from The American named to the list. Mack earned American Rookie of the Year and first-team all-conference honors in 2014 after leading the league with 86.8 yards rushing per game. The Sarasota native posted one of the best rushing seasons in program history setting a new USF freshman record and recording the third-highest total in USF history.

Mack became just the third Bull to post a 1,000-yard rushing season and the first since 2005. He finished third in The American with nine rushing touchdowns and fifth averaging 5.15 yards per carry while adding 21 receptions for 160 yards. A dynamic runner, he had five touchdowns runs of 54 yards or longer and exploded on the scene with an American Conference record and USF record-tying 275 yards and four touchdowns vs. Western Carolina.

USF returns 13 starters (5 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Taggart’s third season at the helm. The Bulls will return their top five tacklers (9 the top 12 overall) and players that accounted for 73 percent of the team’s tackles in 2014. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.

The USF Football program completed its 18^th season and 15^th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.

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