Two Mississippi State players were named to another preseason watchlist this week.
Running backs Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell have both been named to the 2025 Doak Walker Award preseason watchlist, which was released Tuesday. The annual award honors the nation’s top college running back.
Booth emerged as a standout for the Bulldogs during a difficult 2024 season, working both in the backfield and on special teams. He led the team in rushing with 759 yards and five touchdowns on 152 rushing attempts. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry and reached the 100-yard mark twice, registering 125 yards in a game at Tennessee and 124 yards in the final home game of the season against Missouri. His 125-yard performance against the Volunteer defense, ranked sixth in the nation, was the best by yardage by any running back to face Tennessee in 2024.
Booth earned Third Team All-SEC honors as an All-Purpose player for his 1,231 all-purpose yards, including 164 through the air with four receiving touchdowns and 308 kickoff return yards. This is his second watchlist appearance, along with the Paul Hornung Award for most versatile player.
Bothwell, who arrived through the transfer portal last winter, was one of the top freshman running backs in 2024, where he starred at South Alabama. He recorded 834 yards on the ground from 112 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns, earning himself Second Team All-Sun Belt honors. He led the conference in rushing touchdowns and finished seventh in rushing yards.
Both players are expected to have big roles on offense for the Bulldogs, leading a running back room that also includes senior Johnnie Daniels, sophomores Xavier Gayten and Seth Davis, and freshmen Geron Johnson and Kolin Wilson.
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