As the 2024 college football season approaches, the top running backs in the nation were honored on Tuesday by being named preseason nominees for the prestigious Doak Walker Award.

A pair of Big Ten rivals lead the way in Michigan's Donovan Edwards and Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins. Here's a look at the notables:

• Donovan Edwards (Michigan)
• Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
• Trevor Etienne (Georgia)
• TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
  
• Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
• Jaydn Ott (Cal)
  
• CJ Baxter (Texas)
• Jordan James (Oregon)
• Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
  
• Jaydn Ott (Cal)

The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding college running back. It was named after SMU legend and three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.

Edwards had a stellar sophomore campaign in which he ran for 991 yards and seven touchdowns, but his production dipped in 2023 while playing behind two-time All-American Blake Corum. He posted 497 rushing yards and five touchdowns while adding 249 receiving yards.

Edwards (104 yards) and Corum (134 yards) also became the first pair of teammates to rush for over 100 yards in a national championship game as the Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies. Edwards was named one of three cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 25.

Judkins is joining Ohio State after spending his first two seasons at Ole Miss and rushing for a combined 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns. Along with fellow nominee TreVeyon Henderson, he will be a focal point of the Buckeyes offense.

Etienne also transferred to Georgia after spending two years at Florida and totaling 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns. He will have a ton of opportunities to produce on a Bulldogs team that is hungry to add another national title to its mantle.

2023 Doak Walker Award recipient Ollie Gordon II of Oklahoma State is looking to become just the third two-time award winner behind Ricky Williams (1996-97) and Melvin Gordon (2018-19). Gordon led the nation with 1,732 rushing yards while also adding 21 touchdowns.