Sammy Watkins on Hornung Award Watch List

by TigerNet Staff - Thu Aug 02 11:17:33 GMT-04:00 2012

Clemson, SC—Clemson All-American receiver Sammy Watkins has been named to the Hornung Award Watch List for 2012. The honor is named after former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy (1956) winner Paul Hornung and is presented to the top all-purpose player in college football.

Last year, Watkins gained 2,288 all-purpose yards and ranked fourth in the nation in all-purpose yardage per game. His 2,288 total led the ACC and was the second highest total in Clemson history. Only C.J. Spiller’s 2,680 yards in 2009 is greater.

Watkins 2,288 yards last year set an ACC freshman record, as did his 82 receptions, 12 receiving touchdowns and 1219 receiving yards. His yardage total was a Clemson record regardless of class.

Watkins was named the first-team AP All-America all-purpose player last year, just the fourth true freshman in college football history to be named a first-team AP All-American as a non-kicker.

Eight Clemson players have been named to various Watch lists 16 times during the preseason. Tajh Boyd has been named to the watch list for four awards, while Dalton Freeman and Sammy Watkins are listed on three watch lists apiece.

Clemson Players on Preseason Watch Lists for 2012

Player Award Honor

Andre Ellington

Doak Walker Top Running Back

Maxwell Award Top Player

DeAndre Hopkins

Biletnikoff Award Top Receiver

Dalton Freeman

Rimington Award Top Center

Outland Trophy Top Lineman

Lombardi Award Top Lineman

Brandon Ford

John Mackey Top Tight End

Chandler Catanzaro

Lou Groza Top Place Kicker

Malliciah Goodman

Hendricks Award Top Defensive End

Tajh Boyd

Davey O’Brien Top Quarterback

Walter Camp Top Player

Maxwell Award Top Player

Manning Award Top Quarterback

Sammy Watkins

Maxwell Award Top Player

Walter Camp Top Player

Hornung Award Top All-Purpose

From Heather Dinich of ESPN:

The 2012 watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, has been released. The award, now in its third season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung.
Here are your ACC representatives:

Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest

Perry Jones, RB, Virginia

Orwin Smith, RB, Georgia Tech

Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
So. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 200
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile , WR, Clemson