‘Thunder and Lightning’ Named to Doak Walker List

Aug. 28, 2008

Clemson, SC– Clemson running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller have both been named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The honor is given each year to the top running back in the nation in honor of the former SMU All- American. It marks the second straight year both players have been on the preseason list. Davis was a semifinalist in 2006.

Forty-three running backs were named to the list on Thursday and Clemson is one of three schools nationally to have two players on the list. The others are NC State and Texas A&M. NC State plays at Clemson on September 13. The other ACC players are Andre Brown and Jamelle Eugene from NC State, Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, and Greg Little of North Carolina.

Davis has 3,130 rushing yards in his three years at Clemson and needs just 837 to break Raymond Priester’s career record. Davis’s rushing total is first among ACC players by 1400 yards and fourth nationally among active players. He also has 36 career rushing touchdowns, second in Clemson history. Davis has 12 career 100-yard games and Clemson has won every game.

Spiller is a junior who has 1706 career rushing yards, third among active ACC players. He has a 6.23 yards per carry average, second in Clemson history among 1,000 yard rushers and has 17 career touchdowns. Spiller led the Tigers in all-purpose running last year when he was 14th in the nation in kickoff return average. He had kickoff returns for touchdowns in consecutive games, a first in school history.