Top 3 Doak Walker Award Best Bets For 2024

Ollie Gordon ll, Oklahoma State (+400, BetRivers)

Oklahoma State finished eighth in the Big 12 in total yards, and ninth in rushing, but they still managed to put up 29 points or more in seven of their last ten games. The Cowboys seem to be one of those teams that is Jekkyl and Hyde, every other year being good and bad. Still, in the 10 years of the CFP era, Oklahoma State would have never even made a 12-team expanded playoff outside of the 2021 team. I think this could be a great year for them, especially on the ground, as four starters are expected back on the offensive line.

Gordon won the 2023 Walker Award and could be in line to win it again this season. He started the season off slow, but the Cowboys never lost when he ran 20 times or more in a game. He finished with 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns, which is incredible. The biggest worry is that teams know this now, and know he is the reason that OKST wins ballgames.

Trevor Etienne, Georgia (+650, BetRivers)

I don't know how teams are going to stop the Bulldogs offense this season. Last year, this was the most efficient team in the country, ranking fifth in total offense and scoring offense. They were fifth in passing efficiency, first in third-down conversions, second in first downs, and ninth in time of possession. How can it possibly get any better than that? They were literally great at everything with almost zero weaknesses.

This is an NFL offensive line that could compete in the league right now. Four starters are back from last year, and they are all likely to be drafted early. Earnest Greene, Xavier Thomas, Dylan Fairchild, and Tate Ratledge are all names you will be hearing in the pros very soon.

When you think of the name Etienne, you probably think of the former Clemson running back and current Jacksonville Jaguar Travis Etienne. Well, this is his brother Trevor, who is just as good as he was in college. The Florida transfer should have a remarkable season rushing behind an offensive line that is probably the best in the country.

Donovan Edwards, Michigan (+700, BetRivers)

The question for the Wolverines this season will be how fast can they get back to being true contenders after losing all of their key parts in the offseason. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, starting QB J.J. McCarthy is a Minnesota Viking, and RB Blake Corum is a Los Angeles Ram. Huge changes for 2024, to be sure, but there is still an incredible amount of talent on this roster.

While Blake Corum was a special college player, rushing for 1,245 yards and 27 touchdowns, Edwards was a great backup for him. It isn't like he is some freshman with no work, he comes in already having a ton of carries under his belt. While he previously only averaged 4.2 yards per carry, he can also catch, and now will get all the reps as the starter behind what will be a new offensive line.

While the line will be relatively young, they still have a ton of talent.