Nebraska senior I-back Ameer Abdullah has been named one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s top running back.

Abdullah is joined as finalists by fellow Big Ten running backs Tevin Coleman of Indiana and Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin. With the trio of Big Ten running backs being selected as finalists, it marks the first time in the 25-year history of the award that all three finalists are from the same conference. The finalists were determined by a vote of the Doak Walker National Selection Committee.

The recipient of the 2014 Doak Walker Award will be announced on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards from Orlando on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Abdullah is the third Nebraska running back to be named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, joining Calvin Jones (1993) and Ahman Green (1997).

A native of Homewood, Ala., Abdullah has rushed for 1,417 yards this season, including four 200-yard rushing games, despite being limited by a knee injury over the past three games. Abdullah ranks among the top 10 in the country in rushing yards per game, all-purpose yards per game and scoring.

Abdullah has set a Nebraska career record with 6,798 all-purpose yards, a total that ranks second in Big Ten history. Abdullah was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award as a junior in 2013.

In addition to being a Doak Walker Award finalist, Abdullah is a finalist for four other national awards, including the Senior CLASS Award, the Wuerffel Trophy, the Paul Hornung Award and the Pop Warner College Football Award.

Off the field, Abdullah is set to graduate in December, completing his degree work at Nebraska in 3 ½ years.