MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan running back Zurlon Tipton has been named a preseason candidate for the 2013 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Thursday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.
The national recognition is the second the Detroit native has received this month and the third overall a CMU player has collected this preseason. Tipton, a senior, is also on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, an honor recognizing the nation's top college player. Earlier this week, junior wide receiver Titus Davis was selected as a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award.
Tipton is the only running back from a Michigan school to be included on the Doak Walker Award Watch List.
In 2012, Tipton emerged as one of the top running backs in the MAC and in the NCAA. His 1,492 rushing yards, the most by a Chippewa running back in 16 years, are fourth all-time in the CMU single season record book and his average of 114.8 yards per game ranked No. 14 in the nation. Tipton finished the season strong, recording seven straight 100-yard games, including a 101-yard effort in Central Michigan's win over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
Tipton emerged as one of the top running backs in the MAC and in the NCAA in 2012. His 1,492 rushing yards, the most by a Chippewa running back in 16 years, are fourth all-time in the CMU single season record book and his average of 114.8 yards per game ranked No. 14 in the nation. Tipton finished the season strong, recording seven straight 100-yard games, including a 101-yard effort in Central Michigan's win over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
Tipton also scored 20 total touchdowns last season, including 19 on the ground, to move into second place in the CMU record book for a single season in both categories. His average of 9.2 points scored per game ranked in the top 20 nationally. With 26 career touchdowns, Tipton is tied for eighth-most in program history.
For his standout season, Tipton's earned CMU's Herb Deromedi Most Valuable Player Award and was named Second Team All-MAC.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name the semifinalists on November 14, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced on November 25. The committee will cast a second vote beginning on December 2 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2013 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, Dec.12, on ESPN. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held in Dallas, Texas, in February 2013.
CMU opens the 2013 season on the road against Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 31. The game will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2013 CMU home schedule can be purchased online at CMUChippewas.com or by phone at 1-888-FIRE-UP2 (1-888-347-3872). For complete ticket details, visit centralgameday.com.
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