The Paul Hornung Award

Louisville, KY – Monday, September 15, 2014 – Five major college football players, two from powerhouse SEC schools Alabama and LSU, and three from universities as geographically far flung as possible in the US – the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.; the University of Washington in Seattle; and the University of Hawai’i Manoa in Honolulu – have been named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll in week three of the regular season. Washington’s linebacker/running back Shaq Thompson, who earned the honor for the second consecutive week, represents the Pac-12; Phillip Dorsett of Miami represents the ACC; Scott Harding of Hawaii represents the Mountain West; and the Bayou Tigers’ Leonard Fournett and the Crimson Tide’s Christion Jones represent the SEC. All five helped lead their teams to victories this past weekend.

The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is awarded annually to the most versatile player in major college football. The winner and his family will be honored in late January 2015 at a banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health at the Galt House Hotel and Suites in downtown Louisville.

Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett had 201 receiving yards on only four catches – the first player to accomplish that at college football’s highest level since 1997 – and hauled in two touchdown passes for the second straight week, leading Miami past Arkansas State 41-20. He finished the game with the third-highest receiving yard total in Miami history and the second-most by any ACC player in a single game this season. Dorsett finished the game with 215 all-purpose yards and touched the ball four different ways. He had two punt returns for 27 yards, one carry from scrimmage and one punt return.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette led the Tigers’ rushing attack in its 31-0 shutout of Louisiana Monroe. He got the Tigers off to a fast start after returning the opening kickoff 40 yards. Fournette rushed 10 times for 52 yards, including a third-quarter touchdown run where he ran untouched for 24 yards. He finished the game with 112 all-purpose yards: 52 yards on 10 carries, one reception for 20 yards and one kickoff return for 40 yards. Fournette now leads the team with four rushes of 20 yards or more.

Hawaii wide receiver Scott Harding also had a major presence on special teams. He punted, returned punts and recovered an on-side kick in the Rainbows’ 27-24 win over Northern Iowa. Harding punted 11 times for an average of 38.7 yards with seven punts downed inside the 20-yard line, including one inside the 10. He also returned seven punts for 76 yards and caught one pass for 52 yards, which set up a Hawaii touchdown and a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter. One of his fourth-quarter punts was recovered by UH, setting up a field goal and a 27-17 lead. Late in the game, Harding recovered UNI’s on-side kick after the Panthers closed to within 27-24.

Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones helped the Crimson Tide defeat Southern Mississippi 52-12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Jones had a game-leading 175 all-purpose yards with four catches for 50 yards, one punt return for 14 yards and four kickoff returns for 111 yards. Two short passes to Jones in the second quarter set up two touchdowns for the Crimson Tide and gave it a 21-3 lead over ULM. Through three games, Jones averages 129.7 all-purpose yards per game for the undefeated Tide.

Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson touched the ball four different ways on offense and defense to earn Honor Roll for a second consecutive week. On defense, Thompson returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, picked up a fumble and rumbled 52 yards for another score, and had four tackles as Washington routed Illinois 44-19 on Saturday at Husky Stadium. His two defensive TDs were part of a 28-2 scoring run by the Huskies. On offense, Thompson ran the ball three times for 16 yards. He became the first Washington player in 20 years to score via fumble and interception in the same game.

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Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse

Created by the Louisville Sports Commission in 2010, the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award is designed to promote college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky’s best-known and accomplished athletes who has always called Louisville home. Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame and NFL MVP for the Green Bay Packers, set a single season NFL scoring record that stood 46 years. Hornung is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called Hornung, “The most versatile man ever to play the game.” A national selection committee comprised of 16 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 17th vote.  All votes are tabulated independently by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton. The winner is honored at a banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health in late January in downtown Louisville. For more information, visit  www.paulhornungaward.com Fans can also follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward), on Instagram (@paulhornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.

About Texas Roadhouse

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. Texas Roadhouse has grown to more than 400 locations in 48 states. The company is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread and its lively atmosphere. In 2007 and 2008, Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies and in 2009 the company was ranked “Best Value” by readers of Consumer Reports magazine. For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.

About KentuckyOne Health

KentuckyOne Health was formed when two major Kentucky health care organizations came together in early 2012. KentuckyOne Health combines the Jewish and Catholic heritages of the two former systems – Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. In late 2012, the organization formed a partnership with the University of Louisville Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center.  The nonprofit system is committed to improving the health of Kentuckians by integrating medical research, education, technology and health care services wherever patients receive care. KentuckyOne Health has more than 200 locations including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies across the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is the largest health system in Kentucky.

Louisville Sports Commission

The Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to create a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports. LSC attracts and hosts sporting events and activities that have a positive economic impact on Louisville, enhance the area’s image as a premier sports destination, promote healthy lifestyles and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages. More information is available online at www.louisvillesports.org and www.facebook.com/louisvillesportscommission.