Clemson RB Will Shipley named to another preseason watch list |
Louisville, Ky. — July 28, 2022 — The Louisville Sports Commission today named 52 multi-talented college football players to the 2022 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse.
Now in its 13th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in the memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. 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 2023. More information about the Award can be found at www.paulhornungaward.com. Players on the 2022 Watch List represent 52 teams from all 10 football conferences and three independents that are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Big Ten leads the conferences with eight players on the Watch List, the Big 12 and the AAC each have seven, the MAC has six, the SEC and the ACC have four, the Pac 12 has three and the Sun Belt has two. Independents Army, Liberty and Notre Dame each have one player on the list. The Paul Hornung Award has created an impressive legacy in 12 years including seven winners who were first round NFL draft picks – Tavon Austin, Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian McCaffrey, Jabrill Peppers, DeVonta Smith and Shaq Thompson. Houston speedster Marcus Jones won the Award in 2021 as a defensive back who returned kickoffs and punts and saw spot duty on offense. Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots. In 2021, the 52 players on this season’s Watch List accounted for more than 25,000 total yards in total offense and 215 touchdowns rushing, receiving and 16 returning kickoffs and five punts. On defense, the player combined for 325 tackles, six interceptions and one safety. “Paul Hornung’s approach to playing football at Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers was to take on any assignment in order to help his team win games,” said Karl Schmitt Jr., president & CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, owners and operators of the Award. “We created this award as a way to reward college players who selflessly take on the burden of playing multiple positions and exceling at a high level. In addition, we are pleased to introduce new generations of players to the legacy of Hornung, recognized as one of the most versatile players in the history of college and pro football.” Hornung, who passed away in his hometown at age 84 on Nov. 13, 2020, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." The 2022 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2022 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award’s criteria. Players from both the Watch List and the Honor Roll are eligible to win the Award. 2022 Watch List Selections Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh Devon Achane, Texas A&M Rasheen Ali, Marshall Kazmeir Allen, UCLA Amad Anderson, Temple Brian Battie, USF Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan Tank Bigsby, Auburn Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB Jordan Byrd, San Diego State Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte Stefan Cobbs, Boise State Jack Colletto, Oregon State Ron Cook Jr., Buffalo Blake Corum, Michigan Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers Derius Davis, TCU Demario Douglas, Liberty Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama Maquel Haywood, Navy Jha'Quan Jackson, Tulane D'Shawn Jamison, Texas Charlie Jones, Purdue Malik Knowles, Kansas State Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas Jo'Quavious Marks, Mississippi State Devin Maddox, Toledo DJ Matthews Jr., Indiana Bryan Massey, SMU Marvin Mims, Oklahoma Ryan Montgomery, Cincinnati Taylor Morin, Wake Forest Ryan O'Keefe, UCF Trey Palmer, Nebraska Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State Myles Price, Texas Tech Jayden Reed, Michigan State Nikko Remigio, Fresno State Brenden Rice, Southern Cal Tyrell Robinson, Army Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois Will Shipley, Clemson Tarheeb Still, Maryland Jaylen Stinson, Duke Jonathan Sutherland, Penn State Titus Swen, Wyoming Milan Tucker, Appalachian State Sean Tyler, Western Michigan Chris Tyree, Notre Dame Jalen Walker, Miami (OH) Luke Wysong, New Mexico 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.
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