What makes great offenses tick? The first answer that probably comes to mind is an elite college quarterback. Think about some of the recent national champions; all have been won with an efficient quarterback. Yet, if you are a top defense and know what a great quarterback looks like, then you can scheme against nearly every quarterback. One of the things that turns out to be a strong running game.
With Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, the talent his arm produces is undoubted and has been widely talked about. Yet, the pressure on Daniels can be relieved thanks to that aforementioned strong running game.
Running backs Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Iowa transfer Leshon Williams have each been selected to the Doak Walker Preseason Watch List.
According to the article via Kansas athletics, "Hishaw, a redshirt senior from Moore, Oklahoma, has rushed for 1,490 career rushing yards on 282 carries for 18 touchdowns. Hishaw had a career season in 2023, rushing 121 times for 626 yards and 8 touchdowns and was later named to the College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. Hishaw has now been named to the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List for three-straight seasons.
"Williams, a transfer running back from Iowa, has rushed for 1,323 career rushing yards on 318 attempts and 3 touchdowns. In 2023, Williams was an honorable mention All-Big Ten member, rushing for a career-high 821 yards on 170 attempts. Williams was also named to the 2024 Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List."
That is not all for Hishaw. the redshirt senior, check what list Hishaw was nominated to yesterday.
Hishaw’s got it in him 👀@DeuceHishaw makes @BruceFeldmanCFB's College Football Freaks List 🔥 pic.twitter.com/la7ACLWDu3
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) August 5, 2025
Feldman's piece from The Athletic subscription required lists Hishaw as the No. 21 player on that list. Hishaw's brute strength, combined with his strong pass block ability, is going to make him a threat to watch out for.
Both Williams and Hishaw are both going to be under the tutelage of Jonathan Wallace. Wallace was nominated for the 2024 Broyles award, in large part thanks to his work with former Kansas running back and now New Orleans running back Devin Neal.
The Jayhawks' rushing attack averaged 211.4 rushing yards per game in 2024, the most in a season since 2011 (211.7). Kansas' rushing offense finished the season ranked second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally.
Last season, Wallace's core took the third-best rushing attack in the Big 12, which fired the squad into the 13th slot in the nation.