Matt Breida

-- The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors announced today the 10 semifinalists for the 2014 Doak Walker Award, which includes Georgia Southern sophomore. The semifinalists (in alphabetical order) are: Ameer Abdullah (Sr.), Nebraska; Jay Ajayi (Jr.), Boise State; Javorius Allen (Jr.), USC; Cameron Artis-Payne (Sr.), Auburn;; Tevin Coleman (Jr.), Indiana; James Conner (So.), Pittsburgh; Melvin Gordon (Jr.), Wisconsin; Devon Johnson (Jr.), Marshall and Duke Johnson (Jr.), Miami.Members of the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast their votes to determine the 2014 finalists. On Tuesday, November 25, three finalists will be named. A second vote by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will determine the recipient. The 2014 Doak Walker Award recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 11, on ESPN.Breida is among the national leaders in rushing yards per game, points per game and touchdowns and owns the best per-carry average in the nation at 9.43 yards per attempt. His 1,434 rushing yards would be good for fourth nationally and ranks in the top 10 on Georgia Southern's single-season list. The sophomore from Brooksville, Fla., and Nature Coast Technical High School has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and is planning on majoring in business.The Award is named after three-time SMU All-America running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker. Walker, who also punted, returned kicks and kicked extra points, led the Mustangs to two Southwest Conference Championships. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions and led the league in scoring his rookie year. During his six years with the Lions, he led the team to two NFL championships and was chosen All-Pro four times. Walker is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.Honoring the legends of sports for 25 years, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum celebrates outstanding success in athletics. Based in Dallas, the series features major figures from a variety of sports. The PwC SMU Athletic Forum includes four luncheons and the prestigious Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet.The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 678 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about this story.Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics twitter.com/GSAthletics , iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For more information on the Doak Walker Award, visit doakwalkeraward.com or follow on twitter and instagram @DoakWalkerAward.