Iowa State’s Abu Sama III and Leshon Williams of Iowa have both been named to the 2024 Doak Walker Award preseason candidate list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.

Sama, a 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team selection in 2023, rushed for 614 yards and six touchdowns in his first collegiate season. His 614 yards were the third-most by a freshman in school history, while his six scores tied for the third-most.

The Des Moines native and Southast Polk graduate averaged 7.3 yards per carry, setting a new freshman single-season school record. Sama showed big-play ability with five touchdowns of 50 yards or more last year, the most in a single season at ISU dating back to 1971.

Williams led Iowa with 170 carries for 821 yards in 2023. He had three 100-yard games during the season, including a career-high 174 yards in a road win at Wisconsin.

The Chicago native, who is an Athlon preseason All-Big Ten fourth team selection this season, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the league coaches and media in 2023. He was also a Phil Steele fourth-team All-Big Ten selection and Iowa’s Roy Carver Team Offensive MVP.