UAB has officially launched a "#Debo4Doak" campaign to get DeWayne "Debo" McBride recognition as a candidate for the Doak Walker Award. The award is given annually to the top college football running back in the nation.

The campaign, which was launched by the UAB athletics communications department on Wednesday, includes a page on the school’s athletic website – uabsports.com – that will be updated weekly with video and game highlights, stats and other information about McBride.

“When you have selfless players and a selfless team, we all understand and we realize that to get individual goals, you have to have great team success,” said UAB head coach Bryant Vincent. “We are all for each other. When you focus on the team and do things for the team, individual rewards and recognition tend to happen. That’s what Debo is. He’s a selfless player, he’s a great teammate, he loves this team. Really, he’s very deserving of everything he gets. He’ll be the first one to tell you, he couldn’t do it without his offensive line, tight ends and receivers blocking, because that’s who he is.”

McBride is currently the national leader in yards rushing per game at 155.6 and fourth in rushing touchdowns with 11. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in all five of his appearances this season with a season-high of 223 yards against Georgia Southern. Dating back to last season, he’s rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of the last 10 games. The only time he failed to reach 100 yards during that streak was against UTEP, when he had 99 yards on seven carries in the first quarter before leaving the game with an ankle injury.

McBride was on the preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email steve.irvine@1819news.com.

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