Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks Named Doak Walker Award Semifinalist

LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech senior running back Tahj Brooks has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Doak Walker Award for the second consecutive year. Brooks is among an elite group of 10 running backs from across the nation recognized for their exceptional performances this season, including four from the Big 12 Conference.

Brooks joins Big 12 peers DJ Giddens (Kansas State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina), and RJ Harvey (UCF), along with standout running backs from across the country, such as Makhi Hughes (Tulane) and Ashton Jeanty (Boise State). He is one of only two running backs nationally to rush for over 100 yards in every game played this season.

Brooks recently became Texas Tech’s all-time leading rusher, surpassing Byron Hanspard’s 1996 record after a 137-yard performance against Colorado. His career total stands at 4,236 rushing yards, ranking fifth in Big 12 history. Brooks is only 54 yards shy of overtaking former Missouri quarterback Brad Smith for fourth place on the conference's all-time rushing list.

Brooks is poised to break more records:

• A 100-yard performance this weekend at Oklahoma State would mark the 22nd of his career, breaking Hanspard’s Texas Tech record and tying Oklahoma legend Adrian Peterson for fourth in Big 12 history.
• One more 100-yard game would also match the Texas Tech single-season record of 10, set by Hanspard and James Gray.

Despite missing a game due to injury, Brooks has amassed 1,184 rushing yards, ranking eighth nationally, and is sixth in the FBS with an average of 131.6 yards per game. His ability to generate yardage independently is unmatched, with 147 missed tackles forced since 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, Brooks is lauded for his pass protection in Texas Tech’s spread offense, allowing only three sacks in 272 opportunities during his collegiate career.

Brooks is one of only five players in Texas Tech history to rush for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. This list includes two previous Doak Walker Award winners, Byron Hanspard (1996) and Byron “Bam” Morris (1993).

The three finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 26, with the winner revealed during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, live on ESPN. The formal presentation will follow at a banquet on Jan. 31 in Dallas.

For additional information on Tahj Brooks’ remarkable season and career, visit TahjTime.com.