Berger, Thomas Named 2025 Doak Walker Award Candidates
August 05, 2025 | Football
UCLA running backs Jalen Berger and Jaivian Thomas were both named preseason candidates for the 2025 Doak Walker Award on Tuesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's top college running back.
UCLA was one of just 25 FBS schools โ only three of which were on the West Coast โ to land multiple candidates for the Doak Walker Award. ย ย
Berger, a redshirt senior, is entering his second season with the Bruins. During his debut season with UCLA in 2024, Berger totaled 178 yards on 48 carries in reserve duty. The Newark, N.J. native paced the Bruins in rushing against Penn State on Oct. 5 (38 yards) and reeled in touchdown catches in consecutive games against Rutgers (Oct. 19) and Nebraska (Nov. 2). Berger's most productive season came as a redshirt sophomore at Michigan State in 2022, as he totaled 683 rushing yards with six touchdowns.
Thomas, who is beginning his junior campaign, is set to make his Bruin debut in 2025 after transferring from California over the offseason. A two-year letterwinner at Cal, Thomas was the Golden Bears' top ground producer in 2024, pacing the team in rushing yards (626), yards per carry (6.3) and touchdowns (seven). A native of Oakland, Calif., he rushed for 169 yards against San Diego State on Sept. 14, 2024, and found the end zone in five consecutive games starting in mid-October, culminating in a career-long 75-yard touchdown score against Syracuse on Nov. 16.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on ESPN's College Football Awards show on Dec. 12, 2025.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, The PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week.
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).ย Single-gameย andย season ticketsย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
