DALLAS – For the third straight season, Purdue running back Devin Mockobee has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List. In 2023, Mockobee became the first Boilermaker running back to land on the watch list since Markell Jones (2016). Now, he is a mainstay up for the award presented annually to the nation’s best college running back.
The watch list is Mockobee’s second of the season, having earned a spot on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch list for his community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Purdue’s top rusher each of the past three years, Mockobee is ready to lead the ground attack once again while etching his name in the program record book. The Boonville, Indiana, native already ranks Top 10 in Purdue history in the following career categories: 100-yard rushing games (6th – 8), rushing yards (9th – 2,466) and rushing touchdowns (10th – 19). Mockobee needs 1,170 yards to break Mike Alstott’s career rushing record, a mark that has stood for 30 years.
After setting the Purdue freshman rushing record and helping the Boilermakers win the Big Ten West in 2022, Mockobee has played in all 24 games over the past two seasons. Sharing the backfield with current New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in 2023, he rushed for a team-high 811 yards to help Purdue lead the Big Ten in rushing in league games (183.6 ypg). Piling a season-high 153 yards in the win over Minnesota, he became one of only 14 running backs in program history with at least six career 100-yard rushing games.
Mockobee added two more 100-yard games last season, including a 168-yard rushing performance at Oregon State, averaging more than 10 yards per carry on a season-high 16 attempts. He rushed for a team-high 687 yards and added four touchdowns throughout the year to move into Purdue’s Top 10 in both career categories. Mockobee was a leader on and off the field, earning the honor of team captain for six games.
Mockobee and the Boilermakers start the 2025 season at home, hosting Ball State at Ross-Ade Stadium (Aug. 30). Purdue’s first game under head coach Barry Odom kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on BTN.