The Paul Hornung Award

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

Louisville, Ky. – Nov. 5, 2024 – Five players representing the SEC, Big Ten and Conference USA were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in week 10 of the college football season. Making the list are Davon Booth, Mississippi State; Martel Hight, Vanderbilt; Joseph Himon II, Northwestern; Jordan Houston, Marshall; and Kam Shanks, UAB

The National College Football Awards Association will honor Kam Shanks as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week for his performance in UAB’s win over Tulsa.

Mississippi State senior running back/return specialist Davon Booth touched the ball 15 times three different ways for 161 all-purpose yards and one touchdown in the Bulldog’s 45-20 home win over UMass. Booth carried the ball 11 times for 76 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run; caught one pass for 24 yards and a first down on a touchdown drive; and handled three kickoff returns, including a 40-yard return that set up a touchdown drive.

Vanderbilt sophomore cornerback/return specialist Martel Hight made three tackles, a tackle for a loss and a pass deflection; and handled punt returns in the Vol’s 17-10 win over Auburn. Hight’s 39-yard return in the third quarter keyed a Vandy field goal drive, and he fair caught three punts that were instrumental in helping the Commodores maintain field position in a game that was close throughout.

Northwestern sophomore running back/returns specialist Joseph Himon II touched the ball 11 times three different ways for 157 all-purpose yards and two scores, including the game-winner in overtime, in the Wildcats’ 26-20 road win over Purdue. Himon scored on a 51-yard run in the first quarter, then hauled in a short pass and sprinted 22 yards to the endzone in overtime to end the game.

Marshall senior running back/return specialist Jordan Houston touched the ball 11 times rushing, receiving and returning kickoffs for 171 all-purpose yards in the Thundering Herds’ 28-23 home win over UL Monroe. Houston caught a 37-yard pass mid fourth quarter for a key first down in a scoring drive that put Marshall ahead and ran 45 yards for a first down in a scoring drive late in the game that proved to be the game-winner.

UAB’s freshman wide receiver/return specialist Kam Shanks touched the ball 11 times three different ways for 311 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, three rushing and one on a punt return, in the Blazers’ 59-21 home win over Tulsa. Shanks caught a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that proved to be the game-winner, broke away for a 59-yard punt return score in the second quarter and hauled in scoring strikes of 34 and 48 yards in the third quarter.

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.

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