The Paul Hornung Award

WEEK 9: Three Athletes Earn Honor Roll After Explosive Performances in Week Nine

Big 10, Big 12, and Pac 12 Players Account for Eight Touchdowns in Conference Wins

Louisville, Ky. – October 31, 2016 – The Week Nine Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll brings back two familiar faces – Jabrill Peppers and Christian McCaffrey – and newcomer Dede Westbrook from Oklahoma. Peppers headlines the Honor Roll for the second consecutive week and the fourth time this season by playing nine different positions in Michigan’s win over in-state rival Michigan State; McCaffrey returns to the Honor Roll for the first time since Week Four of the season with 225 all-purpose yards in Stanford’s win over Arizona; and Dede Westbrook earns his first Honor Roll by scoring two different ways in the Sooners’ win over Kansas.

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 Nine Honorees:

Michigan defensive specialist Jabrill Peppers played eight positions in the Wolverines’ 32-23 win over Michigan State: linebacker, corner back and safety on defense; wildcat quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense; and punt returner and kick returner on special teams. On defense, he made seven tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack, and rambled 86 yards for a score on a botched two-point conversion. On offense, he ran the ball five times for 24 yards and one touchdown and caught one pass. On special teams, he returned a punt and a kickoff.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey led the Cardinal offense to a 34-10 road win over Arizona, scoring three touchdowns and accounting for 225 all-purpose yards. McCaffrey carried the ball 23 times for 169 yards, scored on runs of 45 and six yards, and caught four passes for 27 yards and a touchdown.  He returned three punts for 29 yards and had a fair catch in the third quarter to give Stanford solid field position at the Arizona 42 yard-line. Stanford is 5-3 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.

Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook scored the first two touchdowns of the game on special teams and offense in the Sooners’ 56-3 home win over Kansas. He opened the scoring with a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown after the Jayhawks’ first possession, then caught a 41-yard pass early in the second quarter to give the Sooners a 14-3 lead. On offense, he had one carry for 24 yards, five receptions for 105 yards and threw one pass. Westbrook also returned one kickoff for 30 yards. The Sooners are 6-2 on the season and lead the Big 12 standings at 5-0.

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)

Week Seven: Joe Mixon (Oklahoma), Jordan Whitehead (Pitt)

Week Eight: Jabrill Peppers (Michigan), Rodney Smith (Minnesota), Joe Mixon (Oklahoma), Tre Watson (Cal), Richie James (Middle Tennessee)