UTSA RB Kevorian Barnes Joins Doak Walker Award Watch List

© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Standout UTSA Roadrunners running back Kevorian Barnes finds himself among the 87 players making the Doak Walker Award Watch List. that was announced on Aug. 6 in Dallas.

Barnes, who is a redshirt junior from the East Texas city of San Augustine, put up quite a highlight reel last season for the Roadrunners. He posted three 100-yard games against Houston, North Texas and Texas State, respectively. Barnes totaled 715 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in 2023.

UTSA RB is a Solid Receiver

The RB is a solid receiver, but he also could be a crafty receiver at times, too, for UTSA. Barnes had 14 receptions for 61 yard, which was enough to get him attention from those putting names on the Doak Walker Award Watch List.

Even as a freshman, Barnes was a force on the football field. For UTSA, he scored 6 touchdowns on 135 carries for 845 yards. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry, reaching the 100-yard mark in five games. Over the Roadrunners' final eight games in 2022, Barnes amassed 825 yards in them.

Look for him to play a solid role in the Roadrunners' offensive schemes this season.

Barnes' career numbers at UTSA size up this way: in 27 games, he's scored 12 touchdowns and has 1,576 rushing yards. Staying healthy, though, has been a battle for him. He had surgery to fix a torn labrum during his college football career. Plus, his shoulder pain even flared up last season, affecting Barnes' play for UTSA.

“I don’t think I played worth nothing last year. I had a goal, and I didn’t get near it,” Barnes said, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “I had some bumps in the road. Honestly, last year, it just felt like a down year for me.”  

Traylor Watches Barnes' Health

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has been keeping his eyes on his star running back too.

“It’s been tough on him,” Traylor said recently. “He has a little bit of history of that right now, so he’s pretty frustrated. Hopefully, he can stay healthy for a while.”

Last season, the Roadrunners finished 9-4 overall, 7-1 in American Athletic Conference play. They look to do even better this college football season.

In November, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists. Later that month, three finalists, voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be named. Then, the same committee will vote in December to determine the winner. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

College football fans can find out who will take home the Doak Walker Award on the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12.

Keep checking back with College Football Dawgs for the latest news involving Texas-San Antonio's Roadrunners.