The Paul Hornung Award

Louisville’s Isaac Brown, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, and Penn State’s Tyler Warren named 2024 PHA Finalists

Award Presented by Texas Roadhouse to Most Versatile Player in Major College Football

Louisville, Ky. – Nov. 7, 2024 – Three players representing the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten have been named finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. Making the list are Louisville’s Isaac Brown, a running back who also handles kickoff returns and is a top-flight receiver out of the backfield; Colorado’s iron man Travis Hunter, who excels on offense, defense and special teams and averages 126 snaps per game; and Penn State’s Tyler Warren, a record-setting tight end who also plays wildcat quarterback, fullback, halfback and wingback.

The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 15th season, is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). The Award pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls-of-Fame once described by Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi as “the most versatile player in the history of the game.” The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in downtown Louisville in March 2025. For information about the dinner, contact Julie Howell at 502-587-6742 or JHowell@Louisvillesports.org.

“Paul Hornung said many times that he would play whatever position his coach asked to help the team win games,” said Greg Fante, LSC president and CEO. “Paul loved players who showed up in the big games, and he would be proud of this year’s finalists.”

Isaac Brown, University of Louisville
Freshman / 5-9, 190 lbs.
Running back / return specialist
Homestead, Fla.

Primarily a running back, true freshman Isaac Brown also handles kickoff returns, sees occasional duty on punt returns and lines up at wildcat quarterback and slot. He made the Honor Roll twice as a workhorse in big, come-from-behind road wins for Louisville: against Boston College, he touched the ball 24 times three different ways and scored on a four-yard run and an 18-yard reception as the Cardinals prevailed 31-27; against Virginia, he touched the ball 23 times three different ways and scored on runs of seven and 14 yards as Louisville won 24-20. In the Cardinals’ 33-21 night-time road win over then no. 11 Clemson, Brown touched the ball 23 times, rushed for 150 yards and his 45-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach. Brown is fifth in the ACC in rushing yards per game and fifth in all-purpose yards per game.

Season stats:

• All-purpose: 1,133 yards, 125.9 per game
• Rushing: 106 rushes, 800 yards, seven touchdowns
• Receiving: 26 receptions, 131 yards, one touchdown
• Kick returns: 11 returns, 193 yards
• Punt returns: two returns, nine yards
• Number of positions played: six (quarterback, backfield, slot, wide, kick return, punt return)

Travis Hunter, Colorado
Junior / 6-1, 185 lbs.
Cornerback/slot and wide receiver
Suwanee, Ga.

A true, two-way starter at cornerback and wide receiver, Travis Hunter is the most prolific player at the FBS level, playing five different positions in the defensive secondary, four skill positions on offense and spot duty on special teams. He averages 64 snaps per game on offense, mostly as a big threat wide receiver; and he averages 62 snaps per game on defense as a lockdown corner. Hunter made the Honor Roll and was named Paul Hornung Award National Player-of-the-Week six times with performances against North Dakota State, Nebraska, Colorado State, Baylor, UCF and Arizona. He is Colorado’s leading receiver and fourth in the Big 12 averaging 96 receiving yards per game, has four games with 100+ receiving yards and two games with multiple touchdowns. He leads the Buffaloes in interceptions and pass breakups and is eighth in tackles.

Season Stats:

• All-purpose: 795 yards, 99.4 per game
• Receiving: 60 receptions, 757 yards, eight touchdowns
• Tackles: 21 tackles, 14 solo, seven assisted, one tackle for loss
• Coverage: two interceptions, 38 yards, seven pass breakups
• Number of positions played: 10 (backfield, slot, wide, box, slot corner, wide corner, free safety, kick return, punt return, field goal/extra point block)

Tyler Warren, Penn State
Senior / 6-6, 261 lbs.
Tight end/wildcat quarterback/wingback/fullback
Mechanicsville, Va.

Primarily a tight end, Tyler Warren also lines up at wingback, fullback, slot, halfback, wide receiver, wildcat quarterback and long snapper in a center-eligible formation and has accounted for touchdowns receiving, rushing and passing. He had a game for the ages in Penn State’s 33-30 road win over USC: he touched the ball 19 times three different ways for 237 total yards; tied an FCS record for a tight end with 17 receptions for 227 yards, including a scoring catch where he lined up as center eligible and snapped to the shotgun quarterback; carried the ball for a first down and completed a pass from the wildcat quarterback position. Against Kent State, he caught five passes for 50 yards and a score, threw a 17-yard touchdown pass and had one carry for 17 yards after faking a pass.

Season stats:

• All purpose: 693 yards, 86.6 per game
• Rushing: 10 rushes, 87 yards, one touchdown
• Receiving: 51 receptions, 606 yards, four touchdowns
• Passing: 2/2 passing, 26 yards, one touchdown
• Number of positions played: seven (quarterback, backfield, inline, slot, wide, o-line, kick return)

2024 Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll

• Week 1: Quali Conley, Arizona; Travis Hunter, Colorado; Desmond Reid, Pitt; and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State.
• Week 2: Desmond Claiborne, Wake Forest; Quali Conley, Arizona; Travis Hunter, Colorado; Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State; and Zylan Perry, Louisiana
• Week 3: Travis Hunter, Colorado; Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan; Nay’Quan Wright, South Florida
• Week 4: Travis Hunter, Colorado; Devonte Ross, Troy; DT Sheffield, North Texas, Breshard Smith, SMU
• Week 5: Travis Hunter, Colorado; DK Kaufman, NC State; Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
• Week 6: Eli Heidenrich, Navy; Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan; JJ Pegues, Ole Miss; Koi Perich, Minnesota; Jaylen Poe, Northern Illinois
• Week 7: Isaac Brown, Louisville; Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colorado State; Brendon Lewis, Nevada; DT Sheffield, North Texas; Tyler Warren, Penn State
• Week 8: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State; Jacob De Jesus, UNLV; Kelley Joiner, USF; Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• Week 9: Isaac Brown, Louisville; Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest; Travis Hunter Colorado; Coleman Owen, Ohio; George Pettaway, James Madison; Brashard Smith, SMU
• Week 10: Davon Booth, Mississippi State; Martel Hight, Vanderbilt; Joseph Himon II, Northwestern; Jordan Houston, Marshall; Kam Shanks, UAB

All votes for the Paul Hornung Award are independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton, one of the largest accounting and financial advisory firms in Kentucky, with offices in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., and Raleigh, N.C.

Paul Hornung Award Winners:

• 2023: Travis Hunter of Colorado was a two-way player who averaged 62 snaps on defense as a lockdown cornerback and 60 snaps on offense as a wide receiver. Hunter finished second on the team with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns; on defense, he tied for the team lead with three interceptions, recorded 31 tackles, led the team with five pass deflections and had two tackles for loss.  He also played substantial time on special teams.
• 2022: Jack Colletto of Oregon State played fullback, quarterback and receiver on offense; linebacker and defensive back on defense; and was on all special teams. He scored six touchdowns rushing, completed two passes, made 28 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.
• 2021: Marcus Jones of Houston was an All-American return specialist and lockdown corner who saw duty on offense. He recorded 48 tackles and five interceptions; returned a pair of kickoffs and punts for touchdowns; and caught 10 passes for 109 yards, including the winning score against Navy.
• 2020: DeVonta Smith of Alabama topped the nation in receiving yards and yards after catch, and averaged 24 yards per punt return leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning punts and was a gunner on punt coverage.
• 2019: Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky made the move from all-purpose receiver/wildcat quarterback/return specialist to quarterback in mid-season and led the Wildcats to a 5-2 record and Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
• 2018: Rondale Moore of Purdue was a dynamic All-American freshman sensation who broke the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and a game with 2,215 and 313, respectively.
• 2017: Saquon Barkley of Penn State was an electrifying All-American running back who lined up at slot and wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts;
• 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan played 15 different positions on defense, offense and special teams, and earned first-team All-America at linebacker;
• 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford was a workhorse on offense and special teams who broke the NCAA record for all-purpose yards, finishing with 3,864;
• 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington was a two-way player, earning first team All-American honors at linebacker and finished as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback;
• 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU finished 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 earned All-American by scoring 17 touchdowns receiving, rushing, returning kicks and punts; and amassing 2,272 all-purpose yards, including 572 yards versus Oklahoma.
• 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia was a lockdown cornerback on defense; scored three touchdowns playing quarterback, running back and slot on offense; and led the SEC in punt and kick returns.
• 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford was a two-way starter who averaged 110 snaps per game and earned first team All Pac-10 at fullback and honorable mention at linebacker.