Doak Walker watch list adds Texas backs Brown, Smothers

In Houston, where plenty of Longhorn alumni fill sports bars from Midtown to Katy on fall Saturdays, Texas football picked up another preseason honor this week. The Doak Walker watch list now includes running backs Quintrevion Wisner Brown and Jerrick Gibson Smothers, giving No. 5 Texas two names in the mix for one of college football's top awards for ball carriers.

The award is presented annually to the nation's top running back, and landing on the watch list puts both Texas players in an early national conversation. Preseason lists do not decide trophies, but they do show how the sport views a roster before Week 1. For a Texas team carrying College Football Playoff expectations, recognition in the backfield matters.

Doak Walker watch list boosts Texas backfield profile

The Longhorns enter the season with heavy attention on their offense, and the running back room is a big reason. Brown and Smothers were both recognized on the Doak Walker Award watch list, an honor tied to consistency, production and national reputation. Texas has built a deep rotation at the position, and this nod highlights that depth before the season begins.

Doak Walker remains one of the sport's signature awards, named after the former SMU star and Heisman Trophy winner. The watch list is an early checkpoint, not a finalist ballot, but players who start here often stay in the award race if their production holds. Texas placing two backs on the list says plenty about the talent level in Austin.

Why Brown and Smothers matter for No. 5 Texas

Texas opens the season ranked No. 5, so every preseason accolade carries added weight. Brown gives the Longhorns proven upside in the run game, while Smothers adds another option in a room expected to handle a major workload. The program's ability to run the ball should shape game flow, protect the quarterback and help Texas handle a demanding SEC schedule.

For Houston-area college football followers, this is the kind of August news that sharpens the picture before kickoff. A team with playoff goals needs star power and depth, and the Doak Walker watch list points to both in the Texas backfield. If Brown and Smothers turn this preseason recognition into weekly production, Texas will have one of the conference's most discussed rushing attacks.

Texas will now move through camp and into its season opener with both backs carrying added national attention. More award trimming comes later in the season, with weekly performance deciding who stays in the race.

This article is a summary of reporting by University of Texas Athletics. Read the full story here.