The Paul Hornung Award

Louisville, Ky. — July 25, 2019 — The Louisville Sports Commission today named 44 multi-talented college football players to the 2019 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse.

The Paul Hornung Award, now in its tenth 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 at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on March 4, 2020.

The 2019 Watch List is comprised of 13 seniors, 27 juniors and four sophomores who play a total of eight different positions. These players represent 44 universities in 27 states coast-to-coast across the 10 conferences that are part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), as well as one independent school. The Big 10 and Pac-12 lead the conferences with eight players, followed by the AAC and SEC with five players each.

Players on this year’s Watch List accounted for 15,343 rushing yards, 18,538 receiving yards, 14,401 kickoff return yards, 2,897 punt return yards and 323 total tackles in 2018. Reminiscent of Hornung during his playing days, members of the Watch List demonstrated a knack for scoring numerous ways. Last season the Watch List players combined for 316 total touchdowns in six different ways – rushing; receiving; passing; and returning punts, kickoffs and interceptions.

The Paul Hornung Award has an impressive legacy. Rondale Moore, the 2018 Paul Hornung Award winner, was named a consensus All-American and Big Ten Receiver of the Year as a true freshman. Two of the five 2018 finalists currently are on NFL rosters, and the other three finalists are on the 2018 Watch List. Six of the eight Hornung Award winners prior to Moore were first round draft picks and currently are playing in the NFL.

“This award, which was created in my name, has earned a special place in college football,” said Paul Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner who played every position in the offensive backfield during his Notre Dame career and was a triple threat halfback and placekicker for the title town Green Bay Packers of the early 1960s. “I’m pleased that we are able to acknowledge outstanding players who contribute any way possible to help their teams win, the same way I did.”

Hornung, who maintains an office in downtown Louisville, earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, “The most versatile man ever to play the game.”

The 2019 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2018 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations, and expectations heading into the 2019 season. Information about the Award can be found at www.paulhornungaward.com. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2019 regular season based on performance.

2019 Watch List Selections

• Salvon Ahmed, Washington
• LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
• Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
• Raheem Blackshear, Rutgers
• Lynn Bowden, Jr., Kentucky
• Britain Covey, Utah
• Ashtyn Davis, Cal
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
• Darryton Evans, App State
• Maurice Ffrench, Pittsburgh
• KJ Hamler, Penn State
• Travell Harris, Washington State
• Connor Heyward, Michigan State
• Darnay Holmes, UCLA
• Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
• Jason Huntley, New Mexico State
• Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
• Wesley Kennedy, III, Georgia Southern
• Adrian Killins, Jr. UCF
• Javon Leake, Maryland
• John Lovett, Baylor
• Kirk Merritt, Arkansas State
• Tra Minter, South Alabama
• Rondale Moore, Purdue
• Dazz Newsome, North Carolina
• Jamal Parker, Kent State
• Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
• James Proche, SMU
• Jalen Reagor, TCU
• Joe Reed, Virginia
• Sean Riley, Syracuse
• Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State
• Laviska Shenault, Jr., Colorado
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
• JD Spielman, Nebraska
• Marquez Stevenson, Houston
• Keylon Stokes, Tulsa
• Kadarius Toney, Florida
• DeAndre Torrey, North Texas
• AJ Turner, South Carolina
• Tyler Vaughns, USC
• Juwan Washington, San Diego State
• Avery Williams, Boise State
• Isaiah Wright, Temple

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. Each week during the season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 18th vote. Regional accounting firm Dean Dorton independently tabulates all votes. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com. Fans also can follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.

Previous Paul Hornung Award winners by year:

• 2018: Rondale Moore of Purdue was a dynamic All-American freshman sensation who broke the school 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 earning 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 finishing 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 vs Oklahoma;
•  2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia was a lockdown cornerback on defense; scored three touchdowns playing QB, 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.

Below are past winners and finalists who have made their mark in the NFL:

• Ameer Abdullah* RB; Nebraska / Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings
• Joe Adams WR; Arkansas / Carolina Panthers
• Antonio Andrews WR; Western Kentucky / Tennessee Titans
• Dri Archer RB; Kent State / Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tavon Austin* RB; West Virginia / St. Louis, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys
• Saquon Barkley* RB; Penn State / New York Giants
• Odell Beckham Jr* WR; LSU / New York Giants, Cleveland Browns
• Brandon Boykin CB; Georgia / Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
• Randall Cobb* WR; Kentucky / Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
• Marcus Green* WR; Louisiana-Monroe / Atlanta Falcons
• Marion Grice RB; Arizona State / Arizona Cardinals
• N’Keal Harry* WR; Arizona State / New England Patriots
• Nyheim Hines* RB; NC State / Indianapolis Colts
• Myles Jack* LB; UCLA / Jacksonville Jaguars
• Adoree’ Jackson* CB; USC / Tennessee Titans
• LaMichael James RB; Oregon / Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills
• Jeremy Kerley* WR; TCU / San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills
• Joel Lanning* LB; Iowa State / Dallas Cowboys
• Marqise Lee* WR; USC / Jacksonville Jaguars
• Johnny Manziel QB; Texas A&M / Cleveland Browns
• Owen Marecic DB; Stanford / Cleveland Browns
• Christian McCaffrey* RB; Stanford / Carolina Panthers
• Ty Montgomery* RB; Stanford / Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets
• Marcus Murphy RB; Missouri / New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills
• Robert Nkemdiche* DL; Ole Miss / Arizona Cardinals
• Jabrill Peppers* DB; Michigan / Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
• Dante Pettis* WR; Washington / San Francisco 49ers
• Shaq Thompson* LB; Washington / Carolina Panthers
• Dede Westbrook* WR; Oklahoma / Jacksonville Jaguars

*Currently active in NFL

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. Fan voting will open in late September and factor into the selection of the finalists and winner.