Only six running backs across the country can claim a prestigious honor this year, and one of them resides in Akron, OH.
Akron Zips running back Jordan Gant received Week 6’s Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week after a career-high 176 rushing yards in an 28-22 upset win over Central Michigan. No FBS player attained more rushing yards in Week 6 than the Akron junior, who transferred in this year from FCS Tennessee State. He also attained 28 receiving yards and a touchdown on three receptions
in the Zips’ first MAC win of the season. The lone touchdown was an instrumental one, providing Akron a 14-10 halftime lead and sparking a 21-0 scoring run for his team.
Gant joins Jonah Coleman (Washington), Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), Sutton Smith (Memphis), and Greg Desrosiers Jr. (Memphis) as the running backs to receive the weekly honor in 2025. He was also a nominee for the award in Week 4 when he produced 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Akron’s 51-7 domination over FCS Duquesne. With two 160+ performances on the year, Gant is currently tied for 19th in the FBS and third in the MAC with 476 rushing yards. Through six outings, he is on track for the best season by an Akron running back in quite some time. The Zips’ last 700-yard rusher was Conor Hundley in 2015 and last 1,000-yard rusher was Dennis Kennedy in 2008 for comparison sake.
Akron is 2-0 when Gant attains at least 100 yards this season, and he’ll look for more opportunities to eclipse this threshold with MAC play in full swing. The Zips face Miami (OH) this Saturday for their second leg of a two-game homestand, hoping to prevail over the RedHawks for the first time since 2016.
