Presented by Texas Roadhouse, Award Given to Nation’s Most Versatile Player

Louisville, Ky. – July 31, 2025 – Forty-six players representing schools in ­­­­nine conferences that compete for the Football Bowl Series have been selected for the 2025 Paul Hornung Award Pre-Season Watch List.

Leading the way are 2024 Paul Hornung Award Finalist Isaac Brown from Louisville and 11 players who made the weekly Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll at least one time in 2024 – Davon Booth (Mississippi State), Demond Claborne (Wake Forest), Ja’Quez Cross (Arkansas State), Jacob De Jesus (Cal, transfer from UNLV), Eli Heidenreich (Navy), Martel Hight (Vanderbilt), Jaden Nixon (UCF, transfer from Western Michigan), Koi Perich (Minnesota), Zylan Perry (Louisiana), Kam Shanks (Arkansas, transfer from UAB) and DT Sheffield (Rutgers, transfer from North Texas). The ACC, Big 10 and Big 12 each landed eight players on the Watch List, with the SEC getting seven; followed by the American Conference with six; the MAC with three; and CUSA, the Mountain West and the Sun Belt with two each.

Now in its 16th season, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in 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 in March 2026 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky.

More information about the Award can be found at www.paulhornungaward.com.

2025 Watch List Selections

The players represent 46 different schools and last season combined for more than 42,000 total yards and 266 touchdowns rushing, receiving, passing and returning kicks and punts. The majority of the players on the Watch List play offensive skill positions and are return specialists; three players are defensive backs and return specialists; and there are several players who play both offense and defense.

Colorado’s Travis Hunter, a wide receiver and defensive back, made history as the first two-time winner of the Award in 2024 and cemented his status as the most decorated college football player of all time winning the Heisman Trophy; the Walter Camp, Bednarik and Bilitnikoff Awards; AP and Sporting News College Football Player-of-the-Year; and the Emerging GOAT Award presented by the Muhammad Ali Center. Playing what amounted to a season of all-star football on both sides of the ball, Hunter averaged 112 snaps per game, led the nation with 21 offensive plays of 20 yards or more, ranked second nationally in touchdown receptions and was eighth nationally in passes defended.

The Paul Hornung Award has created an impressive legacy in 15 years including seven winners who were first-round NFL draft picks – Hunter, Tavon Austin, Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian McCaffrey, Jabrill Peppers, DeVonta Smith and Shaq Thompson.

Hornung, who passed away in his hometown at age 84 in Nov. 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 2025 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 2025 season. Throughout the regular season, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances meet the Award’s criteria. Players named to the Watch List and the Weekly Honor Roll are eligible to win the Award.

All votes for the Paul Hornung Award finalists and winner are independently tabulated by Jones, Nale & Mattingly, one of Kentucky’s premier CPA and advisory firms.

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.

Texas Roadhouse signed on as presenting sponsor of the Paul Hornung Award in 2011 and will partner with the Louisville Sports Commission to power fan voting again this season. College football fans nationwide will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. Fan voting will open in late September and factor into the selection of the finalists and winner

Previous Paul Hornung Award winners by year:

Below are past winners and finalists who have made their mark in the NFL:

*Currently active in NFL

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