DALLAS – Tennessee football rising junior running back Ty Chandler was named to the 2019 Doak Walker Award preseason candidate list on Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum. The award is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back.

Chandler has proven to be one of the SEC’s most explosive and versatile running backs over his two seasons on Rocky Top.

The Nashville, Tenn., native led the Vols with 630 rushing yards on 115 carries (5.5 ypc) in 2018, while hauling in 19 receptions for 183 yards. He led UT with seven total touchdowns with four coming on the ground and three scoring grabs.

He became the first Vol since 2006 with two runs of 75 yards or more. Chandler also permanently etched his name in the Tennessee record books as the first Vol running back to record a touchdown reception in three consecutive games. He ran for a career-high 158 yards against UTEP early in the season and closed out the fall with 80 or more yards rushing in the final three games.

Chandler rushed for 305 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman in 2018 and also ranked fourth in the SEC with a 26.1 kickoff return average. He had a 91-yard kickoff return touchdown versus Indiana State and rushed for 120 yards at Kentucky.