Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon II Receives Doak Walker Trophy

UNIVERSITY PARK, Tx — Friday was a great day for Oklahoma State football and Ollie Gordon II as the sophomore running back out of Fort Worth, TX, officially received the Doak Walker Award.

The award is given to the best running back in college football.

Pokes Report and Robert Allen were on hand for the ceremony, which also saw legendary Dallas Cowboys and Florida Gators running back, Emmitt Smith, receive the OwC Doak Walker Legends Award.

“I was kind of scared to leave [Euless Trinity], it was a huge change in life,” Gordon said. But now I definitely can [envision being the best running back in college football as a sophomore.]”

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Ollie Gordon’s 2023 Doak Walker Award

Gordon II was far and away the best back in college football this past fall as a sophomore, having rushed for 1,732 yards and an impressive 21 rushing touchdowns. He also had 39 receptions for 330 receiving yards. He posted nine games of 100+ rushing yards, including back-to-back games with 200+ yards on the ground, 282 against West Virginia and 271 yards against Cincinnati.

With the entire offensive line, as well as nearly the entire offense returning for the 2024 season, Gordon would have to be the odds on favoirite to repeat as a Doak Walker finalist, as well as several other conference and national Offensive Player of the Year awards.

“We didn’t talk much [last night] about the game at all; obviously he’s a great football player and on his way to another level,” Emmitt Smith said of Gordon. “He has all the tools, obviously, to take [his game] to the next level. The best advice I could give him right now is to remain humble through the process. All the hardware means a lot; it validates what you were able to accomplish throughout the course of the season and what your guys were able to do up front for you to help you get there. But at the end of the day, it’s back to the grind because last year was last year and this year’s a new year. That’s the approach I’ve always taken, ‘I had a great season last year and I’m gonna have an even better season this year, so what do I need to do?’ Treat it as you’ve never won any hardware at all and that you want to win brand new hardware next year. He has a bright future ahead of him and the talent.”

Robert Allen - Pokes Report

Obviously, Cowboy football head coach Mike Gunny was on hand, as was athletic director Chad Weiberg. Pokes With a Purpose chairman Joe Eastin and Ross and Billie McKnight were also in attendance. This is an annual event held at SMU that regularly brings out some of the Dallas elites.

As mentioned on Twitter earlier on Friday, Pokes Report will have several exclusive articles coming out in the coming days on the trophy ceremony, including content from Gordon II, Gundy and Hall of Fame Emmitt Smith.