Valentine Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
August 18, 2026 | Football
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois RB Ca'Lil Valentine has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, released Tuesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
Valentine, a junior from Hayward, Calif., is one of 62 players on the list, overall, and one of 12 from the Big Ten.
DOAK WALKER AWARD
The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the most outstanding running back in college football. Created in 1989, the award pays homage to Doak Walker, who won the 1948 Heisman Trophy and was a three-time All-American, and it honors student-athletes who excel on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community. The Doak Walker Award recipient is voted on by a national selection committee, which includes sports writers, television commentators, analysts, radio sports personalities, former All-Pro and All-America running backs, and past award winners.
- Doak Walker Award Website
- Last three winners:
- 2025: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- 2024: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- 2023: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
CA'LIL VALENTINE
- 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team
- 2026 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team
- Played in all 13 games with six starts in breakout sophomore season in 2025
- Led team with 131 carries and 614 yards, and added four rushing TDs, 10 catches for 55 receiving yards
- 65 yards on eight carries (8.1 avg.) in Music City Bowl victory over #23 Tennessee (12/30/25)
- Six carries for 44 yards (7.3 avg.) and a rushing touchdown in road win at eventual ACC Champion Duke (9/6/25)
- 59 yards on eight carries (7.4 avg.) in home win over #21 USC (9/27/25)
- Career-high 95 rushing yards in win at Purdue (10/4/25)
ILLINI ON WATCH LISTS (AS OF AUGUST 18)
- Matthew Bailey – Lott IMPACT Trophy
- Bret Bielema – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
- Brandon Henderson – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
- Jayshon Platt - Jet Award
- Jake Renfro – Rimington Trophy
- Ca'Lil Valentine – Doak Walker Award
