Football | August 18

DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University running back Telly Johnson Jr. has been listed as a preseason candidate for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced today. The Doak Walker award was established in 1989 to honor the nation's most outstanding collegiate running back.

Johnson, one of 60 candidates, is coming off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 712 yards and four touchdowns on 124 carries. Johnson averaged 5.74 yards per carry, ranking 29th in the FBS and second in the conference last season.

The Georgia native rushed for 100 yards twice in 2025, including a career-high 159 yards while adding a touchdown at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 11. Johnson showed the ability to make the homerun play in his sophomore campaign, scoring all four touchdowns from at least 40 yards out.

Through 18 career games, Johnson has 1,192 rushing yards and eight touchdowns with an average of 5.25 yards per carry.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient.

Single game tickets are now on sale, starting at just $35 for east side general admission tickets while west side general admission seats are $40. Season tickets for all five home games of NIU's first season in the Mountain West start at just $102. Tickets are available online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets or by calling 815-753-PACK (7225).

Huskie fans can sign up for MW+ to catch live games, replays, extra content and more. Subscriptions to MW+ by Huskie fans will also directly support NIU Athletics as a majority of each subscription purchased through a member school's dedicated page will support that institution. Fans who purchase an annual subscription in July, August, and September will receive a $67.99 rate, a 15% discount off the standard annual price.