The belief that the B1G has some of the top running backs in the country was confirmed when the Doak Walker Award released its preseason watch list on Thursday.

Ten running backs from the conference made the 2017 watch list, highlighted by Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and Northwestern’s Justin Jackson. Eight teams from the conference had one player make the list, but Wisconsin – a known haven for ball-carriers – had two candidates.

Here is the full list of B1G running backs named to the watch list:

  • Saquon Barkley, Penn State
  • Justin Jackson, Northwestern
  • Kendrick Foster, Illinois
  • Chris James, Wisconsin
  • Ty Johnson, Maryland
  • LJ Scott, Michigan State
  • Bradrick Shaw, Wisconsin
  • Rodney Smith, Minnesota
  • Mike Weber, Ohio State
  • Akrum Wadley, Iowa

In total, 61 running backs were mentioned on the Doak Walker preseason watch list. The full list can be viewed here.

There are really only two significant omissions from the list. Michigan’s Chris Evans is expected to have a big sophomore campaign after rushing for more than 600 yards and scoring four TDs in his freshman campaign.

Purdue RB Markell Jones was on last year’s preseason watch list but injuries limited his sophomore campaign.

Nebraska, Indiana and Rutgers also didn’t have any candidates on the list.