Tau finalist for Doak Walker Award

RENO (AP) - Nevada senior Vai Taua has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award given annually to the best college running back in the country.

Taua ranks sixth in the nation in rushing averaging 130 yards per game. He recently topped the 1,000-yard mark for the third season in a row and is only the fifth player in the history of the Western Athletic Conference to run for more than 4,000 yards in his career.

Taua is the only semifinalist from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference. Other semifinalists include Alabama's Mark Ingram, Oregon's LaMichael James and TCU's Ed Wesley.

Last week, Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award given annually to the collegiate player of the year.