MEMPHIS – Freshman running back Kenneth Gainwell was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, Thursday. He is the lone freshman on the list and is the first freshman to make semifinalist round 2017 when Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin (the 2018 winner) made the list as a freshman.
Gainwell is the second Tiger in as many seasons to be named a semifinalist for the national award. Darrell Henderson was a finalist for the award last year with Clemson's Travis Etienne and Taylor, both also semifinalists again this year.
Gainwell ranks second in the NCAA in all-purpose yards per game with 162.