Ben Tate has real shot to win Doak Walker Award

PHOTO COURTESY BEN TATE Auburn University senior Ben Tate is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Doak Walker Award. (Nov. 27, 2009) Local football phenom Ben Tate, a senior at Auburn University, is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2009 Doak Walker Award, which recognizes the acheivements of the country's top running back on the field and in the classroom and citizenship in the community. The public has the opportunity to give Tate a boost in receiving the honor.

Fans can go to http://espn.go.com/ sportsnation/rank?versionId=3&listI d=60#topOfList to cast their vote by noon Wednesday, Dec. 9. The running back chosen No. 1 will receive an official vote by the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum, the organization promoting the award, to help determine the three finalists.

"It's good to be a semifinalist," Tate said. "It shows that I'm being recognized nationally as one of the top running backs in the country."

The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will pick the winner. The recipient will be announced live on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show, Thursday, Dec. 10. The award is named after three-time SMU All- American running back and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker.

This week, Tate was back and forth between No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings with University of Alabama's Mark Ingram. More than 90,200 votes had been cast as of Tuesday afternoon.

Tate's high school football career began at Stephen Decatur, where his father, Ben, also played. The younger Tate played for Decatur for three years before transferring his senior year to Snow Hill.

Tate achieved much success in high school. Accomplishments include the Maryland state records for yards rushing in a career (5,920) and a season (2,886), state record for total offensive yards in a career (6,123), Gatorade State Player of the Year as a senior and a consensus all-state pick.He graduated high school a semester early to begin participating in spring drills at Auburn.

According to Auburn's official athletic department Web site, Tate ranks third in the SEC and 12th nationally, averaging 114.2 yards per game and has scored eight rushing touchdowns 1,209 yards and Tate has 3,168 career rushing yards, fifth-most in school history. He is just 200 yards shy of fourth best. The 21-year-old has 22 career touchdowns.

"He's been doing very well," said Tate's father, who attends every game. "I'm a very proud father."

"I've had a pretty good career. It could have started off a little better but at the end, it's as good as it could get," Tate added. "To be top five in Auburn history is something pretty special. I'm No. 5 now but I could still move up."

Tate said he attributes his success to hard work, staying focused and not letting anyone tell him he can't do something.

Tate graduated from Auburn in the spring with a degree in criminology, but continues to take classes at the school.

Auburn is scheduled to play at home against Alabama today (Friday) at 1:30 p.m.