DALLAS, Texas - The SMU Athletic Forum announced the names of the 39 preseason candidates for the 2003 Doak Walker Award, awarded annually to the nation's top college running back.

Among the field of candidates is UCF junior tailback Alex Haynes. The Orlando native rushed for 1,038 yards in 2002 becoming just the fifth back in school history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. For his career, Haynes is eighth in school history with 1,728 yards and is looking to become just the second back at UCF to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.

The complete list of candidates, who were nominated by their universities, follows:

Zack Abron (Sr.), Missouri

Tatum Bell (Sr.), Oklahoma State

Cedric Benson (Jr.), Texas

Art Brown (Sr.), East Carolina

Ronnie Brown (Jr.), Auburn

Terry Caulley (So.), Connecticut

Anthony Davis (Sr.), Wisconsin

Tyler Ebell (So.), UCLA

Adimchinobe Echemandu (Sr.), California

Jermaine Green, (Sr.), Washington State

Alex Haynes (Jr.), UCF

Taurean Henderson (So.), Texas Tech

Bobby Hendry (Sr.), Akron

Lonta Hobbs (So.), TCU

De'Arrius Howard (Jr.) , Arkansas

Steven Jackson (Jr.), Oregon State

Terrence Jackson (Sr.), Central Michigan

Greg Jones (Sr.), FSU

Kevin Jones (Jr.), Virginia Tech

Keylon Kincade (Sr.), SMU

Derrick Knight (Sr.), Boston College

Chance Kretschmer (Jr.), Nevada

Wali Lundy (So.), Virginia

T.A. McLendon (So.), NC State

Tony Milton (Jr.) , Georgia

Brandon Miree (Sr.), Pittsburgh

DonTrell Moore (So.), New Mexico

Mewelde Moore (Sr.), Tulane

Bruce Perry (Sr.), Maryland

Chris Perry (Sr.), Michigan

Bobby Purify (Sr.), Colorado

Phil Reed (Sr.), Western Michigan

Fred Russell (Sr.), Iowa

Michael Turner (Sr.), Northern Illinois

Carnell Williams (Jr.), Auburn

DeAngelo Williams (So.), Memphis

Shaud Williams (Sr.), Alabama

Quincy Wilson (Sr.), West Virginia

Jason Wright (Sr.), Northwestern

“We have another outstanding list of candidates for the Doak Walker Award. It should be a very exciting college football season, and we look forward to watching the progress of each of these student-athletes this fall," said Randall Goss, chair of the SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors.

The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select eight semifinalists on November 19, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote on the winner in late November. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, print and electronic media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2003 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN along with other NCFAA member awards on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 11, 2003. The Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet will be held at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, February 12, 2004.

Former Penn State running back Larry Johnson, currently with the Kansas City Chiefs, won the 2002 Doak Walker Award.

The SMU Athletic Forum, the presenting entity for the Doak Walker Award, produces four annual luncheons and is widely regarded as America’s preeminent sports luncheon series. Sponsors of the Forum include PricewaterhouseCoopers, American Airlines, The Dallas Morning News, AFLAC, Guaranty Bank and The Texas Rangers.