Event Will Honor Colorado’s Travis Hunter as the Most Versatile Player in Major College Football
Louisville, Ky. – Feb. 18, 2025 – Laura Rutledge, host of ESPN’s year-round weekday NFL news and information show NFL Live and SEC Network’s SEC Nation, will be the featured speaker at the 15th annual Paul Hornung Award Ceremony to be held on March 3, 2025, at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football and pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native, Paul Hornung.
Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, the 2024 Paul Hornung Award winner, will be the honored guest at the Ceremony. Hunter lined up for what amounts to two full seasons of all-star football, one on each side of the ball. He played 57.3 snaps a game on defense at four different positions in the secondary, played 56 snaps a game on offense at four skill positions and saw spot duty on special teams. Hunter led the nation with 21 offensive plays of 20 yards or more, led the Big 12 and was second nationally in touchdown receptions, led the Big 12 and was eighth nationally in passes defended and was second in the Big 12 in receiving yards per game. He had six games with 100+ receiving yards, four games with multiple touchdowns, led the Buffaloes in interceptions and pass breakups, was eighth in tackles and forced a fumble in overtime to win a game.
Since joining ESPN in 2014 as a reporter on SEC Network and ESPN, Rutledge has consistently expanded her portfolio. She was named host of NFL Live in June 2020 while also hosting SEC Nation – 2024 was her eighth year as host and ninth year with the show overall. In October 2022, Rutledge was the sideline reporter for ESPN+’s first-ever exclusive NFL game at Wembley Stadium in London.
In addition to her NFL Live, SEC Nation and sideline reporting duties, Rutledge plays a large role in ESPN’s presentation of the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games and NFL Draft coverage.
In 2024, she added golf to her portfolio, joining ESPN’s coverage of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., as host of the Welcome to the Masters program.
Before joining NFL Live, Rutledge was a contributor on ESPN’s morning show, Get Up. She has also anchored SportsCenter and hosted red carpet coverage at both The Home Depot College Football Awards and the ESPYs. Additionally, Rutledge has contributed to ESPN and SEC Network’s live-event programming for college football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball and softball. She was a mainstay in ESPN’s extensive championship coverage surrounding the College Football Playoff, NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, and both the Women’s College World Series and College World Series.
Rutledge has a broadcasting journalism degree from the University of Florida, where she also won the 2011 Red Barber Award for Excellence in Broadcasting at UF. Rutledge is an Ambassador for the Miracle League, an organization that builds baseball fields for children with disabilities.
A limited number of tickets to the Paul Hornung Awards Ceremony remain available. Corporate tables of eight are $2,500; single tickets are $200 each. For more information regarding tickets, contact Julie Howell at 502-587-6742 or jhowell@louisvillesports.org.
