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Buffalo Running Back Branden Oliver snubbed from Doak Walker consideration

The #5 leading rusher in the country left off the list of ten semifinalists.

Andre Williams headlines the Doak Walker Semifinalists
Andre Williams headlines the Doak Walker Semifinalists
Elsa

UB fans don't need to be reminded that Khalil Mack is not the only senior superstar playing for the Bulls this year. The star linebacker is a semifinalist for both the Butkus and Bednarik awards, and wide receiver Alex Neutz is on the watchlist for the Biletnikoff award.

Of course, the Bodozer, Branden Oliver, was looking to get into the action, and as the #5 leading rusher in the country in both Total Yards and Yards per Game, seemed a good bet for the 10-man list of semifinalists for the Doak Walker award, which recognizes the nation's top running back. But the list was announced yesterday, and BO isn't on it:

Ameer Abdullah, Junior, Nebraska
Antonio Andrews, Senior, Western Kentucky
Ka’Deem Carey, Junior, Arizona
Mike Davis, Sophomore, South Carolina
Tyler Gaffney, Senior, Stanford
Melvin Gordon, Sophomore, Wisconsin
Tre Mason, Junior, Auburn
Bishop Sankey, Junior, Washington
Lache Seastrunk, Junior, Baylor
Andre Williams, Senior Boston College

Six of these ten rank in the top ten in Total Yards this season. The four who are missing? Jordan Lynch of Northern Illinois (#4), Branden Oliver (#5), Travis Greene of Bowling Green (#8), and Kapri Bibbs of Colorado State (#10). Lynch is ostensibly a Quarterback, so his exclusion isn't a surprise, but with two outstanding MAC RBs not on the list, and Antonio Andrews the only non-BCS conference representative, you have to stop and wonder.

Of course, Andre Williams literally rushed for 120+ yards in the time it took me to write this post on the way to a 330+ yard day, so it may not matter who the other nine are one bit.