University of Memphis Athletics
Covey Named to Doak Walker Watch List
Aug 21, 2026 | Football
DALLAS – Continuing a long stretch of highly-touted running backs at the University of Memphis, redshirt junior Manny Covey was named to the 2026 Doak Walker Award watch list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's most outstanding running back.
Covey, a transfer who spent the past three seasons at Cincinnati, picked up his first preseason honor as a Preseason American Conference first-team punt returner by Pro Football Network. The Starke, Florida native had 436 all-purpose yards as a versatile back and returner at Cincinnati last year, also recording a 100-yard receiving performance against Oklahoma State as a redshirt freshman.
Covey is one of four honorees from the American, joined by Leonard Farrow (Florida Atlantic), Ashton Grey (East Carolina) and Jahiem White (North Texas).
Memphis has had a running back on the Doak Walker Award watch list in nine seasons since 2004, with 10 total honorees during that time span. It also gives the Tigers a player on the watch list for the third-straight season.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-American running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10, 2026.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker Running Back of the Week.
Head coach Charles Huff's first season in Memphis is set to be an exciting one with eight of Memphis' 11 FBS opponents earning bowl berths in 2025.
The Tigers will have a six-game home slate at the new-look Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, hosting Arkansas State (Sept. 5) and UT Martin (Sept. 19) in the nonconference slate before American Conference contests against UAB (Oct. 10) in the "Battle for the Bones", East Carolina (Oct. 22), Army (Oct. 31) and Temple (Nov. 27 or 28).
Memphis also has a stout road slate against the two top Mountain West programs in UNLV (Aug. 29) and Boise State (Sept. 12), along with conference matchups at Charlotte (Oct. 3), Tulane (Oct. 16), South Florida (Nov. 12) and Navy (Nov. 21), with the Green Wave, Bulls and Midshipmen all finishing in the top five in the American in 2025.
Season tickets for the 2026 Memphis Football season can be purchased HERE.
For the 2026 season, Memphis will implement tiered pricing for single-game tickets:
Tier 1: Army – starting at $25
Tier 2: UAB, Arkansas State, East Carolina – starting at $20
Tier 3: UT Martin, Temple – starting at $15
Fans are encouraged to purchase early and save. Ticket prices will increase by $5 during game week and again by an additional $5 on gameday at the Box Office. This change helps support enhanced planning for security, concessions and staffing.
Single-game tickets purchased in the West Side Chairbacks will include access to Landers Plaza.
For fans seeking flexibility, the Memphis Football Mini Plan gives the option to choose any three games that best fit your schedule, starting at just $60.
Similar to last year, Memphis Athletics will be asking fans to cover the Shelby County sales tax rate of 9.75 percent on all tickets and parking.
Single-game tickets can be purchased online at THIS LINK or by calling the Memphis Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331. For group tickets and experiences, please contact the Memphis Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331.
For premium seating experiences, please contact the Memphis Athletic Fund at MAFpremium@memphis.edu.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Covey, a transfer who spent the past three seasons at Cincinnati, picked up his first preseason honor as a Preseason American Conference first-team punt returner by Pro Football Network. The Starke, Florida native had 436 all-purpose yards as a versatile back and returner at Cincinnati last year, also recording a 100-yard receiving performance against Oklahoma State as a redshirt freshman.
Covey is one of four honorees from the American, joined by Leonard Farrow (Florida Atlantic), Ashton Grey (East Carolina) and Jahiem White (North Texas).
Memphis has had a running back on the Doak Walker Award watch list in nine seasons since 2004, with 10 total honorees during that time span. It also gives the Tigers a player on the watch list for the third-straight season.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-American running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10, 2026.
The award is named for SMU's three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. Each Tuesday of this season, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum will once again announce a Doak Walker Running Back of the Week.
Head coach Charles Huff's first season in Memphis is set to be an exciting one with eight of Memphis' 11 FBS opponents earning bowl berths in 2025.
The Tigers will have a six-game home slate at the new-look Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, hosting Arkansas State (Sept. 5) and UT Martin (Sept. 19) in the nonconference slate before American Conference contests against UAB (Oct. 10) in the "Battle for the Bones", East Carolina (Oct. 22), Army (Oct. 31) and Temple (Nov. 27 or 28).
Memphis also has a stout road slate against the two top Mountain West programs in UNLV (Aug. 29) and Boise State (Sept. 12), along with conference matchups at Charlotte (Oct. 3), Tulane (Oct. 16), South Florida (Nov. 12) and Navy (Nov. 21), with the Green Wave, Bulls and Midshipmen all finishing in the top five in the American in 2025.
Season tickets for the 2026 Memphis Football season can be purchased HERE.
For the 2026 season, Memphis will implement tiered pricing for single-game tickets:
Tier 1: Army – starting at $25
Tier 2: UAB, Arkansas State, East Carolina – starting at $20
Tier 3: UT Martin, Temple – starting at $15
Fans are encouraged to purchase early and save. Ticket prices will increase by $5 during game week and again by an additional $5 on gameday at the Box Office. This change helps support enhanced planning for security, concessions and staffing.
Single-game tickets purchased in the West Side Chairbacks will include access to Landers Plaza.
For fans seeking flexibility, the Memphis Football Mini Plan gives the option to choose any three games that best fit your schedule, starting at just $60.
Similar to last year, Memphis Athletics will be asking fans to cover the Shelby County sales tax rate of 9.75 percent on all tickets and parking.
Single-game tickets can be purchased online at THIS LINK or by calling the Memphis Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331. For group tickets and experiences, please contact the Memphis Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331.
For premium seating experiences, please contact the Memphis Athletic Fund at MAFpremium@memphis.edu.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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