LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -- UNLV junior running back Jai'Den "Jet" Thomas continued to earn preseason hype with a spot on the 2025 Doak Walker Award watch list, announced Tuesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.
 
The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding college running back. 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 be announced later that month. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2025 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12.
 
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker and is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards.
 
Thomas (Atlanta, GA) previously was named a member of the watch lists for both Walter Camp and the Maxwell Award.
 
Voted 2025 Preseason First Team All-Mountain West, Thomas led the ranked Rebels in rushing yards last fall with 918 along with seven rushing scores. He also added his first career receiving touchdown and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give him 21 TDs overall heading into his junior season. After just two years, he already ranks ninth in Rebel history with 19 rush scores and needs just one to move into a tie for seventh place.
 
Under the direction of first-year head coach Dan Mullen, the Rebels will kick off their 58th season of football August 23 by hosting Idaho State in the earliest game in program history.
 
Season, single-game and three-game mini-plan tickets for the six-game 2025 home schedule are available by visiting unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). For information on VIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Premium Sales office at premiumseating@unlv.edu or by calling (702) 739-FANS (3267).