WEEK 1: Four Players from Three Conferences Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor RolL
Louisville, Ky. – Sept. 4, 2024 – Four players representing the Big 12, ACC and Big Ten were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in week one of the college football season. Making the list are Quali Conley, Arizona; Travis Hunter, Colorado; Desmond Reid, Pitt; and Nicholas Singleton, Penn State.
For his performance in Colorado’s win over FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, Hunter will be honored by the National College Football Awards Association as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week.
Arizona senior running back/return specialist Quali Conley touched the ball 14 times three different ways and scored three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 63-19 win over New Mexico at home. Conley caught three passes, returned one kickoff and carried the ball 10 times for 90 yards and ran for three scores in the second half when Arizona blew the game open.
Colorado junior defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter played 129 snaps on offense and defense, all but two plays from scrimmage, and scored three times as the Buffalos twice came from behind to defeat North Dakota State 31-26 at home. Hunter made three tackles on defense and on offense caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns, including a three-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
Pitt junior running back/return specialist Desmond Reid touched the ball 19 times three different ways, scored two different ways and accounted for 234 all-purpose yards in the Panthers’ 55-24 win over Kent State at home. Reid scored on a 78-yard punt return in the first quarter and added a 46-yard scoring run in the third quarter while accounting for four first downs from scrimmage. He also caught three passes and made one fair catch.
Penn State junior running back/return specialist Nicholas Singleton touched the ball 17 times three different ways and scored once in the Nittany Lions’ hard-fought, 34-12 win over West Virginia in Morgantown. Singleton rushed for 113 yards and a third quarter score that spotted Penn State a three-touchdown lead. He also returned three kickoffs, caught one pass and accounted for five first downs from scrimmage.
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 regular 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 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 19th vote.