WEEK 7: Running Back and Strong Safety Make Game-Changing Plays in Conference Wins
Players from the Big 12 and ACC Headline Week Seven Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
Louisville, Ky. – October 17, 2016 – Oklahoma running back and kick returner Joe Mixon returns to the Honor Roll for the second time this season by playing a major role in the Sooners’ 38-17 win over Kansas State. Pitt’s Jordan Whitehead started on both offense and defense, and makes his first appearance on the Honor Roll this season following the Panthers’ 45-31 road win over Virginia.
The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is annually awarded to the most versatile player in major college football. For the first time in its seven-year span, the Paul Hornung Award is an associate member of the prestigious National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The winner of this year’s award and his family will be honored on March 7, 2017, at a banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville, Ky.
Week Seven Honorees:
Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon accounted for two touchdowns and 203 all-purpose yards rushing, receiving, passing and returning kickoffs in OU’s win over Kansas State as the Sooners’ ran their record to 3-0 to stay atop the Big 12 standings. Mixon’s 26-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter put Oklahoma ahead 21-7 and proved to be the winning score. He also carried the ball 19 times for 88 yards, caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, and returned two kicks for 55 yards.
Pitt strong safety Jordan Whitehead, who also started the game on offense at wide receiver, recorded a 59-yard pick six with seconds left in the first half that turned the tide for the remainder of the game, as the Panthers beat Virginia 45-31 on the road. Whitehead carried the ball three times for 28 yards on offense; on defense, he made three solo tackles, one assisted tackle and the interception that proved to be the winning score. Pitt remains tied for second in the ACC Coastal Division with a 2-1 record.
Past Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll Selections
Week One: Thomas Sperbeck (Boise State), Brandon Wilson (Houston), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia)
Week Two: Quadree Henderson (Pitt), Kalen Ballage (Arizona State), KaVontae Turpin (TCU)
Week Three: Janarion Grant (Rutgers), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
Week Four: Victor Bolden Jr. (Oregon State), Quadree Henderson (Pitt), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), D’Eriq King (Houston), Darius Phillips (Western Michigan)
Week Five: Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), TJ Logan (UNC), Joe Mixon (Oklahoma), Cedrick Wilson (Boise State)
Week Six: Alvin Kamara (Tennessee), Adoree’ Jackson (USC), Tim White (Arizona State), Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)