UConn RB Jordan Todman Not a Semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award

Jordan Todman is the victim of a robbery.

On November 11, it was reported that Todman, a junior running back at the University of Connecticut, who has in two weeks led his team to victories over West Virginia and Pittsburgh, was robbed by Southern Methodist University when he was left off their list of semifinalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award.

The Doak Walker Award is annually given to the nation's top running back. Therefore, it would make sense to have the 10 best running backs listed as semifinalists, right? Wrong.

Todman is seventh in the nation in rushing yards with 1,176 in eight games for the Huskies. Of the six players in front of him, five have played at least 10 games.

Cam Newton, Auburn's quarterback and therefore not in the running, has played 11. LaMichael James, the nation's leading rusher, is the only one to have played in only nine games like Todman. Todman missed UConn's win over Buffalo. As he is averaging 147 yards per game, had he played in that game, he would currently be fourth in rushing and third amongst running backs.

Four BCS-conference running backs in the top 10 in the nation in rushing—LaMichael James (Oregon), Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State), Bilal Powell (Louisville), and Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)—were announced as semifinalists. Todman is the only BCS running back in the top 10 left off the list.

The other finalists are John Clay (Wisconsin), Mark Ingram (Alabama), DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma), Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State), Vai Taua (Nevada) and Ed Wesley (TCU). Of these six players, only Taua and Wesley appear in the top 25 in the nation in rushing (10th and 19th). Mark Ingram does not even appear in the top 40.

So, if the award is to go to the nation's top back, why would Ingram, who is in fact 68th with 694 yards, be chosen over Todman, who is seventh with 1,176 yards and still has at least one more game to play than five of the six players ahead of him?

Todman lead the way with 222 yards to set up UConn's 30-28 victory over Pitt last Thursday and scored a very important touchdown and ran for 113 yards against West Virginia in a 16-13 overtime win two weeks before. He is having a career season and is showing that he is a premier back in the nation.

What justification does Southern Methodist University have for leaving this star back off their list? As I said, had he not been hurt, he would potentially have been fourth in the nation with still one or two less games played than five of six players ahead of him!

I find it hard to believe that the committee has found a valid reason to leave Todman off their list. If they have one, I would love to hear it.