Le'Veon Bell named semifinalist for Doak Walker Award

To the surprise of no one who follows college football, Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell was named one of the 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker award on Saturday morning.

The award is given to college football's top running back, and will be presented on December 6 at the Home Depot College Football Awards. The three finalists will be named November 19.

For Bell, it has been a season to remember, even as the Spartans have struggled.

Bell entered Saturday ranked fifth nationally with 1,249 yards, tallying 10 touchdowns as well. However, the number that may define Bell's season is his 283 carries; they're the most of any running back in college football, thanks in large part to Michigan State's passing attack which is ranked just 78th nationally. Michigan State has a bye this week, but is just 5-5 overall.

Along with Bell, the other semifinalists named on Saturday were Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Kenjon Barner (Oregon), Giovani Bernard (North Carolina), David Fluellen (Toledo), Johnathan Franklin (UCLA), Stefphon Jefferson (Nevada), Venric Mark (Northwestern), Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State) and Stepfan Taylor (Stanford).