The Paul Hornung Award

Event Will Honor Colorado’s Travis Hunter as the Most Versatile Player in Major College Football

Louisville, Ky. – Feb. 7, 2024 – 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 14th annual Paul Hornung Award Ceremony to be held on March 8, 2024, 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 sophomore cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, the 2023 Paul Hornung Award winner, will be the honored guest at the Ceremony. Hunter earned consensus All-American honors at the athlete/all-purpose position by playing offense, defense and special teams, averaging 119.2 total snaps per game. Primarily a cornerback on defense, he also lined at slot corner, linebacker and safety where 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. Mainly a slot and wide receiver on offense, he also played tight end and fullback and, despite missing three games due to injury, Hunter finished second on the team with 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns.

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 – 2022 was her sixth year as host and seventh 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.

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 $2,000; single tickets are $150 each. For more information regarding tickets, contact Julie Howell at 502-587-6742 or jhowell@louisvillesports.org.