Coates Tabbed to Doak Walker Watch List

ATLANTA – One day after he was tabbed to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team, Georgia State running back Destin Coates was named a candidate for the 2021 Doak Walker Award, announced Wednesday by the PwC SMU Athletics Forum.

The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the nation's top running back. Coates, the senior from Tallahassee, Fla., is the first Georgia State running back to be recognized as a candidate.

Coates is the third-leading rusher in GSU history with 1,452 career rushing yards, and he ranks second with 15 rushing touchdowns and tied for second with six 100-yard games.

He was a third-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2020 after finishing third in the league with 85.4 yards per game. Coates rushed for 769 yards in nine games, the second-highest season total in program history and scored seven touchdowns last fall.

He was GSU's third-leading rusher in 2019 with 560 yards, a team-leading 6.7-yard average and seven touchdowns.

Coates is one of 11 returning starters on a Georgia State offense that averaged a school-record 33.3 points per game in 2020.

The Panthers open the 2021 season by hosting Army on Sept. 4 at Center Parc Stadium in a 12 noon game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

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