Colorado University Athletics
Colorado’s Hayden and Welch Among Doak Walker Award Candidates
August 05, 2025 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado running back duos Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch have been named preseason candidates for the 2025 Doak Walker Award, as announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding college running back.
Hayden, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior from Memphis, Tenn., appeared in eight games for the Buffaloes in 2024, recording 190 rushing yards and one touchdown on 58 carries. He also caught 13 passes for 72 yards. Hayden transferred to Colorado after two seasons at Ohio State, where he totaled 663 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. As a freshman, he rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, including three 100-yard performances. He recorded a career-high 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a win over Maryland and added a team-high 43 rushing yards on nine carries against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Welch, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound sophomore from Milledgeville, Ga., played in nine games as a true freshman in 2024, starting three, including the final two games of the season. He rushed 43 times for 186 yards and scored a team-high four touchdowns. Welch added eight receptions for 54 yards and led all Big 12 freshmen in rushing touchdowns. He scored twice against Baylor, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Colorado legend Rashaan Salaam won the Doak Walker Award in 1994. That season, the junior running back rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns.
About the Doak Walker Award
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will announce 10 semifinalists in November. Three finalists, selected by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a final vote in December to determine the recipient, who will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, 2024.
Named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker, the award recognizes excellence in the running back position. Each Tuesday during the season, the Forum will announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.
Hayden, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound junior from Memphis, Tenn., appeared in eight games for the Buffaloes in 2024, recording 190 rushing yards and one touchdown on 58 carries. He also caught 13 passes for 72 yards. Hayden transferred to Colorado after two seasons at Ohio State, where he totaled 663 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. As a freshman, he rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, including three 100-yard performances. He recorded a career-high 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a win over Maryland and added a team-high 43 rushing yards on nine carries against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Welch, a 5-foot-9, 215-pound sophomore from Milledgeville, Ga., played in nine games as a true freshman in 2024, starting three, including the final two games of the season. He rushed 43 times for 186 yards and scored a team-high four touchdowns. Welch added eight receptions for 54 yards and led all Big 12 freshmen in rushing touchdowns. He scored twice against Baylor, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Colorado legend Rashaan Salaam won the Doak Walker Award in 1994. That season, the junior running back rushed for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns.
About the Doak Walker Award
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will announce 10 semifinalists in November. Three finalists, selected by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a final vote in December to determine the recipient, who will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, 2024.
Named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker, the award recognizes excellence in the running back position. Each Tuesday during the season, the Forum will announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballColorado Football Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 29
Mark Johnson & Gary Barnett breakdown Arizona State game | The Buffalo Stampede: Colorado Football
Sunday, November 23
Colorado Football Postgame Press Conference | Arizona State
Sunday, November 23
Mark Johnson & Gary Barnett recap the game at WVU | The Buffalo Stampede: Colorado Football
Saturday, November 08