The Paul Hornung Award

Honorees Represent Four Conferences and One Independent School

Louisville, Ky., Sept. 20, 2021 – Five players representing four conferences and one independent school accounted for nine touchdowns four different ways to earn the Paul Hornung Weekly Honor Roll in week three of the college football season.

Gary Bryant Jr. from USC represents the Pac 12; Britain Covey from Utah represents the Mountain West; Jahan Dotson from Penn State represents the Big 10; Tyler Snead from East Carolina represents the American Athletic Conference; and Kyren Williams represents independent Notre Dame.

The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 12th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission to pay tribute to football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung, who passed away in Nov. 2021. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March 2022.

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.

USC sophomore wide receiver / return specialist Gary Bryant Jr. touched the ball four different ways and scored two different ways in the Trojans’ comeback win over Washington State on the road. Bryant Jr. hauled in a 32-yard scoring strike just before half-time that cut WSU’s lead to 14-7, then ran three yards for a touchdown in mid-third quarter for what proved to be the winning score. His two kickoff returns set up scoring drives. Bryant Jr. also fair caught one punt.

Utah junior wide receiver / return specialist Britain Covey touched the ball 15 times three different ways and scored twice in the Utes’ 33-32 road loss to San Diego State in three overtimes. Covey raced 80 yards with a punt return to open scoring, then scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter as Utah battled back from a 14-point deficit. He finished the game with six punt returns for 132 yards, eight receptions for 46 yards and one kickoff return for 25 yards.

Penn State senior wide receiver / return specialist Jahan Dotson touched the ball four different ways – receiving, rushing, passing and returning punts – and scored once in the Nittany Lion’s 28-20 win over Auburn in Happy Valley. Dotson’s four-yard touchdown reception opened scoring for PSU, and his 22-yard pass completion deep into Auburn territory led to a Nittany Lion score in the second quarter. He carried the ball one time, fair caught four punts and returned one punt 16 yards.

East Carolina sophomore wide receiver / return specialist Tyler Snead touched the ball five different ways and accounted for scores two different ways in the Pirates’ 42-38 road win over Marshall. His 24-yard touchdown catch opened ECU’s scoring and his 27-yard touchdown pass with 2:27 to go help erase a 10-point deficit. Snead had five catches for 80 yards, carried the ball once, returned a punt and a kickoff, and accounted for three first downs.

Notre Dame sophomore running back / return specialist Kyren Williams touched the ball 16 times three different ways and scored two different ways as the Fighting Irish defeated Purdue 27-13 at home. Williams’ scored on a 39-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and his 51-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach. Williams set up the final score with a 23-yard punt return. He finished the game with 91 yards rushing, 47 yards receiving and three punt returns for 30 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. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com. Fans also can follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.

Previous Paul Hornung Award winners by year:

• 2020: DeVonta Smith of Alabama topped the nation in receiving yards and yards after catch, and averaged 24 yards per punt return leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning punts and was a gunner on punt coverage.
• 2019: Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky made the move from all-purpose receiver/wildcat quarterback/return specialist to quarterback in mid-season and led the Wildcats to a 5-2 record and Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
• 2018: Rondale Moore of Purdue was a dynamic All-American freshman sensation who broke the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and a game with 2,215 and 313, respectively.
• 2017: Saquon Barkley of Penn State was an electrifying All-American running back who lined up at slot and wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts;
• 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan played 15 different positions on defense, offense and special teams, and earned first team All-America at linebacker;
• 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford was a workhorse on offense and special teams who broke the NCAA record for all-purpose yards, finishing with 3,864;
• 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington was a two-way player, earning first team All-American honors at linebacker and finished as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback;
• 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU finished the season ranked second in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference with 2,222 all-purpose yards and 185.2 average yards per game;
• 2012: Tavon Austin of West Virginia earned All-American by scoring 17 touchdowns receiving, rushing, returning kicks and punts; and amassing 2,272 all-purpose yards, including 572 yards versus Oklahoma.
• 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia was a lockdown cornerback on defense; scored three touchdowns playing quarterback, running back and slot on offense; and led the SEC in punt and kick returns.
• 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford was a two-way starter who averaged 110 snaps per game and earned first team All Pac-10 at fullback and honorable mention at linebacker.

Below are past winners and finalists who have made their mark in the NFL:

• Ameer Abdullah* RB; Nebraska / Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings
• Joe Adams WR; Arkansas / Carolina Panthers
• Antonio Andrews WR; Western Kentucky / Tennessee Titans
• Dri Archer RB; Kent State / Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tavon Austin RB; West Virginia / St. Louis, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers
• Saquon Barkley* RB; Penn State / New York Giants
• Odell Beckham Jr* WR; LSU / New York Giants, Cleveland Browns
• Lynn Bowden, Jr.* WR; Kentucky / Miami Dolphins
• Brandon Boykin CB; Georgia / Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
• Randall Cobb* WR; Kentucky / Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans
• D’Wayne Eskridge* WR; North Carolina / Seattle Seahawks
• Travis Etienne* RB; Clemson / Jacksonville Jaguars
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire* RB; LSU / Kansas City Chiefs
• Marcus Green WR; Louisiana-Monroe / Philadelphia Eagles
• Marion Grice RB; Arizona State / Arizona Cardinals
• KJ Hamler WR; Penn State / Denver Broncos
• N’Keal Harry* WR; Arizona State / New England Patriots
• Nyheim Hines* RB; NC State / Indianapolis Colts
• Myles Jack* LB; UCLA / Jacksonville Jaguars
• Adoree’ Jackson* CB; USC / Tennessee Titans
• LaMichael James RB; Oregon / Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers
• Jeremy Kerley WR; TCU / San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills
• Joel Lanning LB; Iowa State / Dallas Cowboys
• Marqise Lee* WR; USC / Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots
• Johnny Manziel QB; Texas A&M / Cleveland Browns
• Owen Marecic DB; Stanford / Cleveland Browns
• Christian McCaffrey* RB; Stanford / Carolina Panthers
• Ty Montgomery* RB; Stanford / Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints
• Marcus Murphy RB; Missouri / New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers
• Robert Nkemdiche* DL; Ole Miss / Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks
• Jabrill Peppers* DB; Michigan / Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
• Dante Pettis* WR; Washington / San Francisco 49ers
• Joe Reed* WR; Virginia / Los Angeles Chargers
• DeVonta Smith* WR; Alabama / Philadelphia Eagles
• Shaq Thompson* LB; Washington / Carolina Panthers
• Kadarius Toney* WR; Florida / New York Giants
• Dede Westbrook* WR; Oklahoma / Jacksonville Jaguars

*Currently active in NFL

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ABOUT 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. The 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 active lifestyles and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages, and connect local businesses with student-athletes for future job opportunities. More information is available online at www.louisvillesports.org, www.facebook.com/louisvillesportscommission and @SportsinLou.

ABOUT Texas Roadhouse
Based in Louisville, Ky., Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993 and has more than 580 locations in 49 states and nine countries. The family-friendly restaurant is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread and a lively atmosphere. In 2018, Texas Roadhouse was named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes. Texas Roadhouse was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Customer Service restaurants in the Casual Dining category in 2019. For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.

ABOUT National College Football Awards Association
The Paul Hornung Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.