WEEK 2: Five Players from Across the U.S. Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
Louisville, Ky. – Sept. 12, 2022 – Five players from the Pacific Northwest to the Mid Atlantic and three stops in between earned the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in big wins this past weekend. Making the list are Jack Colletto, Oregon State; Jahmyr Gibbs. Alabama; Shedro Louis, Liberty; Bumper Pool, Arkansas; and Sean Tyler, Western Michigan.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 13th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission. The Award pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in downtown Louisville in March 2023.
College football fans nationwide have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. Online fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse is now open HERE and factors into the selection of the finalists and winner.
Oregon State redshirt junior LB/QB Jack Colletto, a three-way player for the Beavers, scored twice on two-yard runs, the first to open the scoring and the second with less than a minute to play, in a 35-32 road win over Fresno State. Playing linebacker, Colletto made three tackles; on special teams, he played on punt and kickoff returns; and on offense, he carried the ball three times from the wildcat quarterback position. His second score proved to be the game-winner.
Alabama junior RB/return specialist Jahmyr Gibbs touched the ball 20 times three different ways and scored once in the Crimson Tide’s hard-fought, 20-19 road win over Texas. Gibbs carried the ball nine times for 22 yards and a first down, caught nine passes for 74 yards and a first down, including a seven-yards touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that gave ‘Bama a 17-16 lead. Gibbs also handled one kickoff return.
Liberty junior RB/return specialist Shedro Louis touched the ball three different ways and scored once in the Flames’ 21-14 home win over UAB. Louis carried the ball 13 times for 45 yards and scored on a seven-yard scamper to give the Flames a 7-0 lead. He caught three passes for 32 yards and returned a kickoff 32 yards to start a scoring drive. Louis accounted for four first downs rushing and two first downs receiving.
Arkansas senior LB/return specialist Bumper Pool was a force on defense and had a key kickoff return as the Razorbacks beat South Carolina 44-30 at home in an SEC opener for both teams. On defense, Pool made seven tackles, and had a sack, a tackle for loss and one pass deflection. Pool returned an onside kickoff 34 yards to the Gamecock’s nine-yard line in the fourth quarter that set up the Razorbacks’ final score and put the game out of reach.
Western Michigan junior RB/return specialist Sean Tyler touched the ball 20 times three different ways and scored the winning touchdown in the Bronco’s 37-30, come-from-behind win over Ball State on the road. Tyler carried the ball 15 times for 108 yards and ran 60 yards to pay dirt for the winning score with seven minutes left in the game. Tyler accounted for four first downs rushing and returned one kickoff 19 yards.
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 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.