Montee Ball, Marcus Lattimore highlight 52 on Doak Walker watch list

By Ben KerchevalJul 19, 2012, 1:05 PM EDT

We’re getting to the home stretch of the preseason watch list email inbox stuffing. Thank you for your patience.

Today’s watch list: the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back. Among the 52 players on the list are last year’s semifinalist Montee Ball (Wisconsin), as well as Knile Davis (Arkansas) and Marcus Lattimore (South Carolina).

Interesting omission? Oregon’s De'Anthony Thomas.

Last year’s winner was Trent Richardson (Alabama).

You can view all of the individual preseason watch lists in one handy repository HERE, and the entire Doak Walker Award watch list below.

Michael Alisa, BYU
Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Kenjon Barner, Oregon
Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State
Giovani Bernard, North Carolina
Rex Burkhead, Nebraska
Jesse Callier, Washington
Benny Cunningham, Middle Tennessee
Orleans Darkwa, Tulane
Knile Davis, Arkansas
Andre Ellington, Clemson
Johnathan Franklin, UCLA
Ray Graham, Pittsburgh
Gee Gee Greene, Navy
Jordan Hall, Ohio State
D.J. Harper, Boise State
John Hubert, Kansas State
Michael James, Miami
Waymon James, TCU
Nathan Jeffery, UTEP
Walter Kazee, San Diego State
Eddie Lacy, Alabama
Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina
Hunter Lee, Louisiana Tech
Zach Line, SMU
Raymond Maples, Army
Cameron Marshall, Arizona State
Onterio McCalebb, Auburn
Lyle McCombs, Connecticut
Curtis McNeal, USC
Christine Michael, Texas A&M
Latavius Murray, UCF
Branden Oliver, Buffalo
Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State
Silas Redd, Penn State
Kedrick Rhodes, FIU
Robbie Rouse, Fresno State
Jarred Salubi, Baylor
Anthon Samuel, Bowling Green
Orwin Smith, Georgia Tech
Isi Sofele, California
Shawn Southward, Troy
Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt
Eric Stephens, Texas Tech
Stepfan Taylor, Stanford
Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michigan
Matthew Tucker, TCU
James White, Iowa State
James White, Wisconsin
John White, Utah
Kerwynn Williams, Utah State
Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

South Carolina gives AD Tanner raise, two-year extension

Associated PressMar 18, 2023, 4:44 PM EDT

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner received a two-year contract extension that ties him to the school through June 2026.

Tanner, 64, is a two-time College World Series champion as the Gamecocks’ baseball coach who moved to leading the athletic department in July 2012.

The new deal was approved by the school’s board of trustees Friday and replaces Tanner’s old agreement that was set to expire in June 2024. Tanner will receive a raise of more than $153,000 per season, increasing his total compensation to $1.175 million.

Tanner has had his ups and downs leading the department. He took over when football coach Steve Spurrier was in the middle of three straight 11-2 seasons with players like defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney and receiver Alshon Jeffrey.

Tanner’s hire to replace Spurrier, Will Muschamp, lasted less than five seasons before he was let go in the middle of 2020. Muschamp’s replacement, current coach Shane Beamer, has had back-to-back winning seasons and been to a bowl game his first two yeas.

Tanner has also overseen the rise of women’s basketball under coach Dawn Staley, who signed a seven-year contract before the 2021-22 season worth $22.4 million. Staley and the Gamecocks won the national title last April and are favorites to repeat this season.

Michigan RB Blake Corum says he’ll be back by fall camp

Associated PressMar 16, 2023, 1:14 PM EDT

Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan All-America running back Blake Corum said his surgically repaired left knee has gotten strong enough that he’s been cleared to run on an anti-gravity treadmill next week.

Corum said that he is “100%” sure he will play in the season-opening game on Sept. 2 against East Carolina

Corum tore a meniscus and sprained a ligament in his left knee against Illinois on Nov. 19. After playing sparingly against Ohio State, he sat out when the Wolverines won the Big Ten title and advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Instead of entering the NFL draft, Corum decided to stay in school for his senior year.

“Feeling great all-around mentally, physically spiritually,” Corum told The Associated Press.

The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Corum ran for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and had 952 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021.

“I’ll be back definitely by fall camp,” he said. “I plan on doing everything in the summer workouts, depending on on what doctor says. He told me I shouldn’t be cutting until maybe June. I’m taking my time, but I will be ready by the season.”

Corum will be watching when his teammates face each each other in the Maize and Blue spring game on April 1 at Michigan Stadium.