The Paul Hornung Award

Players Score Rushing, Receiving, Returning and Passing in Conference Wins

Louisville, Ky. – October 8, 2018 – Two wide receivers and a running back who accounted for seven touchdowns four different ways and led their respective teams to conference wins are named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for week six of the college football season. Wide receivers Isaiah Wright of Temple and Lil’Jordan Humphrey of Texas are joined on the list by running back Kerrith Whyte, Jr. of FAU.

The Paul Hornung Award, now in its ninth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine, to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March 2019. This will be the Paul Hornung Award’s third year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association.

Temple junior wide receiver / return specialist Isaiah Wright scored twice in the second quarter in Temple’s 49-3 home route of East Carolina in AAC action. Wright hauled in a 31-yard scoring pass then returned a punt 59 yards for a score as the Owls put the game out of reach in the first half. He touched the ball receiving and returning punts and kicks and finished the game with 178 all-purpose yards.

Texas junior wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey accounted for the Longhorn’s first touchdown by throwing a two-yard scoring pass and scored the Longhorn’s final touchdown on a 15-yard reception as UT beat rival Oklahoma 48-45 in a Big 12 conference game in Dallas. Humphreys had nine receptions for 133 yards, four for first downs, and completed two passes for 10 yards.

FAU junior running back Kerrith Whyte, Jr., scored twice on the ground and once on a school record 100-yard kickoff return in the Owls’ 52-33 Conference USA win over Old Dominion in Boca Raton. White carried the ball nine times for 63 yards, caught two passes for 25 yards and had one kickoff return.

The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed.

Previous Paul Hornung Award winners by year:

• 2017: Saquon Barkley of Penn State won the award as an electrifying All-American running back who lined up at slot and wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts;
• 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan won the award by playing 15 different positions on defense, offense and special teams, and earning first team All-America at linebacker;
• 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford won the award after breaking the NCAA record for all-purpose yards, finishing with 3,864;
• 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington won the award as a two-way player, earning first team All-American honors at linebacker and finishing as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback;
• 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU won the award after finishing the season ranked second in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference with 2,222 all-purpose yards and 185.2 average yards per game;
• 2012: Tavon Austin of West Virginia won the award as one of two players in the nation with more than 500 yards in three different categories (rushing, receiving and kick returns);
• 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia won the award after excelling on defense, offense and special teams; and
• 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award as a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and linebacker.

Texas Roadhouse signed on as presenting sponsor of the Paul Hornung Award in 2011 and will team with the Louisville Sports Commission to power fan voting again this season. College football fans nationwide will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. For more information and to vote, go to www.louisvillesports.org/paul-hornung/award-poll/