Ryan Silverfield knew exactly what he was getting when Sutton Smith followed him to Arkansas.
Now the rest of the country is finding out too.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday that Smith made the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list an honor given each year to the best running back in college football.
Smith spent four seasons at Memphis before Silverfield brought him to Fayetteville. The two worked together on the Tigers before Silverfield took over as Arkansas’ coach.
The award itself carries plenty of history. It’s been around since 1990 and takes its name from Doak Walker a three-time All-America back at SMU.
There’s a weekly element too. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will hand out a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor every Tuesday this season.
Smith’s production last year explains why he’s already on the radar. He appeared in 12 games for Memphis and finished with 669 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries.
His impact went well beyond carries. Add in 20 catches for 109 yards plus 155 return yards on kicks and 125 on punts and Smith racked up 1,058 total yards.
Big plays defined his season
Three different games saw Smith clear the 100-yard rushing mark. The best of those came against Arkansas on Sept. 20 when he broke loose for 147 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries.
That performance included the game’s biggest moment. Smith ripped off a 64-yard score with 4:51 remaining to put the game away.
He wasn’t done there. Smith ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns against Troy on Sept. 13 then added 109 yards and two more scores against East Carolina on Nov. 15.
Special teams gave him another way to shine. The Powder Springs Georgia native took a kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown at UAB on Oct. 18 and finished tied for ninth nationally in rushing plays of 60-plus yards.
The road to the award
Ten semifinalists get announced in November followed by three finalists chosen by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee. A second vote in December decides the winner among a panel of former players and media members.
This marks Smith’s second watch list appearance of the summer. He was also tabbed for the 2026 Paul Hornung Award back on Aug. 10.
Hogs fans will see him in action soon enough. Arkansas kicks off the season Sept. 5 against North Alabama at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network with tickets starting at $45.
Key takeaways
- Sutton Smith reunited with coach Ryan Silverfield at Arkansas after four seasons together at Memphis
- Smith produced 1,058 all-purpose yards last season including a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown
- The Razorbacks open their season Sept. 5 against North Alabama at Razorback Stadium
