The Paul Hornung Award

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

Louisville, Ky. – Oct. 22, 2024 – Four players representing the Mountain West, Sun Belt, AAC and Big 12 were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in week eight of the college football season. Making the list are Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State; Jacob De Jesus, UNLV; Kelley Joiner, USF; and Jaylin Noel, Iowa State.

The National College Football Awards Association will honor Ja’Quez Cross as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week for his performance in Arkansas State’s win over Southern Miss.

Arkansas State junior running back / return specialist Ja’Quez Cross touched the ball 24 times three different ways and scored two different ways in the Wolfpack’s 44-28 road win over Southern Miss. Cross caught three passes for 34 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. He carried the ball 18 times for 127 yards and his 10-yard scoring run in the third quarter proved to be the game winner. Cross also returned a kickoff 28 yards.

UNLV senior wide receiver / return specialist Jacob De Jesus touched the ball rushing, receiving, returning kickoffs and punts in the Rebels’ 33-25 road win over Oregon State. De Jesus caught four passes for 71 yards, including two receptions for first downs in UNLV scoring drives; he carried the ball twice for 17 yards, including a run for a first down in a scoring drive. De Jesus also handled one kickoff and three punts.

USF senior running back / return specialist Kelley Joiner touched the ball 19 times three different ways and scored three times in the Bulls’ 35-25 home win over UAB. Joiner carried the ball 15 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including a one-yard scoring run late in the game that proved to be the game winner and a 33-yard scoring run with less than three minutes to play that put the game out of reach. Six of his plays from scrimmage accounted for first downs. He also handled two kickoff returns.

Iowa State senior wide receiver / return specialist Jaylin Noel touched the ball 15 times three different ways and accounted for 203 all-purpose yards in the Cyclones’ come-from-behind, last-second home win over UCF, 38-35. Noel caught eight passes for 153 yards, including five catches for first downs during Iowa State scoring drives. He returned two punts for 52 yards, including a 36-yard return to the ISU 40-yard line that started a scoring drive; Noel fair caught punts at the 27-, 15-, 24-, 25- and 16-yard lines. He also carried the ball one time

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: Travus 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