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Washington State’s Max Borghi one of 10 in Pac-12 named to Doak Walker watch list

Washington State running back Max Borghi (21) celebrates with fans after Washington State defeated Oregon State 54-53 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Pullman, Wash.   (Associated Press)

Watch list season continued for Washington State on Wednesday when junior running back Max Borghi earned his second consecutive nod to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which annually recognizes college football’s best running back.

If the college football season can somehow survive the coronavirus pandemic and go on as scheduled, Borghi is expected to be WSU’s top offensive catalyst, especially in Nick Rolovich’s more rush-oriented, run-and-shoot offense.

During Mike Leach’s final season coaching the Cougars, Borghi was the nation’s most productive dual-threat running back, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention after recording 1,435 all-purpose yards and 16 touchdowns, the second most in the conference by a player other than a quarterback. He was the only Power Five player to post more than 800 rushing yards, 550 receiving yards and at least 16 touchdowns.

Borghi rushed for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 86 passes for an FBS-high 597 receiving yards and five scores.

The Arvada, Colorado, native had four 100-yard rushing games, eight games with more than 100 all-purpose yards and led all Pac-12 running backs with 6.4 yards per carry. As a sophomore, he also had more missed tackles (26) after the catch than any running back in the country.

Borghi is the first player in school history with 10-plus touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, entering his junior year with 28 career touchdowns.

He was one of 10 players in the Pac-12 named to the Walker list, joining USC’s Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai, Oregon’s CJ Verdell, Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson, Arizona’s Gary Brightwell, Colorado’s Alex Fontenot, Cal’s Chris Brown, UCLA’s Demetric Felton and Washington’s Richard Newton.

Earlier in the week, WSU linebacker Jahad Woods was named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which recognizes the best defensive player in college football.