Spiller finalist for Doak Walker Award

Clemson running back C.J. Spiller has been named a finalist for the 2009 Doak Walker Award. The award is presented each season to the top running back in the nation.

Walker is joined among by Mark Ingram of Alabama and Toby Gerhart of Stanford.

Spiller is third in the nation in all-purpose running yards this week with 188 yards per game. He established the ACC single season record for all-purpose running in the win over Virginia that clinched the ACC Atlantic Division title this past Saturday. He now has 2066 all-purpose yards this season, breaking the record of 2054 by Thomas Jones of Virginia in 1999.

Spiller is the only player in the nation with a touchdown in every game this year. He has scored 15 touchdowns altogether, seven rushing, four receiving, three on kickoff returns and one on a punt return. He has also thrown a touchdown pass. He has 894 yards rushing, 421 yards receiving, 543 yards on kickoff returns and 208 on punt returns.

Spiller is the first Clemson running back to be named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. The last Clemson player to be named a finalist for any award is Gaines Adams, who was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award in 2006.