UTEP football: Aaron Jones named to Doak Walker Award Watch List

As the season inches nearer, Aaron Jones keeps racking up the preseason recognition today in being named to the 2015 watch list for the Doak Walker Award.

Jones is one of six C-USA running backs to be named on the watch list which includes Leon Allen from Western Kentucky, Kenneth Dixon from LA Tech, Devon Johnson from Marshall, Shane Tucker from Middle Tennessee, and Ray Lawry from Old Dominion.

Jones led the Miners last season with 1,321 rushing yards (fourth-best single-season total in program history), rushing touchdowns (11), points (84), rushing yards per game (110.1), total touchdowns (14) and all-purpose yards per game (134.5).

In 2014 Jones totaled 1,614 all-purpose yards, (seventh-best single-season performance in program history) he also averaged 5.5 yards per carry. His yards per game average ranked 24th amongst all FBS players, and fourth in Conference USA. He also produced six 100-yard games and six multiple-touchdown games in 2014.

The prestigious Doak Walker Award was created in 1989 to recognize the nation's premier running back for his accomplishments on the field, achievement in the classroom and citizenship in the community.

Yesterday, Jones was named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List recognizing Jones’ community service efforts.

The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service," is presented annually by the All Sports Association in Fort Walton Beach Florida. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.

Jones has been widely known around El Paso for giving back to his community. The junior participated in Project Move, where the football team hosted and played with children from the Child Crisis Center and the Boys and Girls Club for the day. Jones also took part in Wellness Wednesday, where student-athletes visited elementary and middle schools and discussed the importance of eating health and staying active.

In all, Jones is on watch lists for the Maxwell Award, AFCA Good Works Team, Wueffel Trophy, and now the Doak Walker award.