DALLAS, Texas — Texas State junior running back Brock Sturges has been named to the 2021 Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Wednesday morning.
 
Sturges, who rushed for 532 yards and five touchdowns on 111 carries and hauled in 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown en route to being named an honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference selection last season, enters the 2021 football campaign having already been selected to the Phil Steele & Athlon's preseason All-Sun Belt Conference third team. 

Sturges broke onto the scene for head coach Jake Spavital and the Bobcat offense as the then-sophomore capped the 2020 season by leading the team in rushing yards and rush attempts. He also was tied for the top mark among Texas State student-athletes in rushing touchdowns and the longest rush from scrimmage. Against Louisiana on Oct. 31, 2020, Sturges put on a career performance as the running back set career highs in carries (17), rushing yards (128) and rushing touchdowns (2). 

Sturges, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back out of Allen High School by way of Butler Community College, is one of just seven student-athletes at the running back position within the Sun Belt Conference to be appointed to the watch list. He, along with Arkansas State's Marcel Murray, are the lone representatives out of the conference's west division. 

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and select special representatives. 

The recipient of the 2021 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards. 

Sturges and the rest of the Texas State Bobcats will open the 2021 football slate by hosting Big XII foe Baylor on Sept. 4 in San Marcos. The game is currently scheduled to kick at 6 p.m. CT and be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Single-game, half-season and full-season tickets for the 2021 Texas State football season are available here.