| Two Offensive Players from the Big 12, Big Ten Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
Saquon Barkely from Penn State, Christian Kirk from Texas A&M Lead Teams to Dramatic Wins |
| Louisville, Ky. – September 25, 2017 – Â Saquon Barkley (Penn State) and Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for Week Four after standout performances on Saturday when they combined for more than 600 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns and led their teams to dramatic, come-from-behind wins in conference matchups.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. The winner of this year’s award and his family will be honored on March 7, 2018, at a banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville, Ky.
Penn State running back / return specialist Saquon Barkley led the Nittany Lions to a last-second, 21-19 victory at Iowa, dominating the Hawkeyes with 358 all-purpose yards on 43 touches, establishing a Penn State single-game record for all-purpose yardage. Barkley rushed for 211 yards on 28 carries, including an 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and caught 12 passes for 94 yards. He accounted for seven first downs rushing and receiving, and on special teams returned three kickoffs for 53 yards.
Texas A&M receiver / return specialist Christian Kirk accounted for 236 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns as the Aggies beat Arkansas 50-43 in overtime in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kirk led the team in receiving with five catches for 110 yards and two scores, including a 10-yard touchdown reception to win the game in overtime. On special teams, he returned three kickoffs for 136 yards, including a 100-yard return for a score late in the fourth quarter to help set the stage for overtime. Kirk also had five fair catches on punts.
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. Previous winners by year are: 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award as a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and honorable mention at linebacker; 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia won the award as a lockdown, All-American defensiveback who also excelled on offense and special teams; 2012: Tavon Austin of West Virginia won the award as one of two players in the nation with more than 500 yards in three different categories (rushing, receiving, and kick returns); 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU won the award after finishing the season ranked second in the nation and first in the SEC with 2,222 all-purpose yards and 185.2 average yards per game; 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington won the award as a two-way player, earning first team All-America honors at linebacker and finishing as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback; 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford won in 2015 after amassing 3,496 all-purpose yards with 1,847 rushing, 540 receiving, and 1,109 return, breaking Barry Sanders record of 3,250 set in 1988; and 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan won the award playing 15 different positions, earning consensus All-America at linebacker, and becoming the first player ever to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the year, Linebacker of the Year, and Specialist of the Year.
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| Texas Roadhouse
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. Texas Roadhouse has grown to more than 530 locations in 49 states and eight countries. The company is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread and its lively atmosphere. In 2017, the company was named one of the nation’s Large Best Employer by Forbes magazine and a Best Place to Work for Millennials by Fortune. For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.
KentuckyOne Health KentuckyOne Health, one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth, has more than 200 locations, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies in Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is dedicated to bringing wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved.
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. 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. More information is available online at www.louisvillesports.org and www.facebook.com/louisvillesportscommission.
National College Football Awards Association The Paul Hornung Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 23 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story. |