The Paul Hornung Award

WEEK 5: Five Offensive Players / Return Specialists Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll

Louisville, Ky. – Oct. 4, 2022 – Five newcomers earned the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances this past weekend. Making the list are Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte; Jacob Cowing, Arizona; George Holani, Boise State; Johnnie Lang, Arkansas State; and Xavier Worthy, Texas.

The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 13th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission. The Award pays tribute to 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 downtown Louisville in March 2023.

College football fans nationwide have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. Online fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse is now open HERE and factors into the selection of the finalists and winner.

Charlotte sophomore RB / return specialist Shadrick Byrd touched the ball 19 times three different ways and scored once in the 49er’s 41-35 home loss to UTEP. Byrd carried the ball 13 times for 80 yards and scored on a 13-yard run late in the game to cut UTEP’s lead to seven. He accounted for three first downs, caught two passes and returned four kickoffs for 75 yards.

Arizona junior WR / return specialist Jacob Cowing touched the ball 16 times three different ways and scored once in the Wildcats’ 43-20 home win over Colorado. Cowling caught 12 passes for 180 yards, including a three-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter. Cowling accounted for six first downs receiving, carried the ball once and returned three punts.

Boise State junior RB / return specialist George Holani touched the ball 23 times three different ways and scored twice in the Broncos’ 35-13 home win over SDSU. Holani’s 12-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter proved to be the winning score, and he scored on a 29-yard run in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 131 yards rushing, two catches for 17 yards and four punt returns for 17 yards.

Arkansas State senior RB / return specialist Johnnie Lang touched the ball four different ways and scored three different ways in the Red Wolves’ 45-28 home win over UL Monroe. Lang caught an 18-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, ran one yard for what proved to be the winning score in the third quarter, then returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score later that quarter to put the game out of reach.

Texas sophomore WR / return specialist Xavier Worthy touched the ball three different ways and accounted for three touchdowns two different ways in the Longhorns’ 45-20 home win over West Virginia. In the opening quarter, Worthy caught a 15-yard touchdown pass and threw a 33-yard scoring strike. Worthy caught a 44-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, accounted for three first downs receiving and fair caught three 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. Each week during the regular season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 18th vote. Regional accounting firm Dean Dorton independently tabulates all votes.

2022 Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll

  • Week 1: Jack Colletto, Oregon State; Derius Davis, TCU; Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State; Evan Hull, Northwestern
  • Week 2: Jack Colletto, Oregon State; Jahmyr Gibbs. Alabama; Shedro Louis, Liberty; Bumper Pool, Arkansas; Sean Tyler, Western Michigan
  • Week 3: Israel Abanikanda, Pitt; Devon Achane, Texas A&M: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State; Roschon Johnson, Texas; Will Shipley, Clemson; Chris Tyree, Notre Dame
  • Week 4: Trey Benson, Florida State; Kaelon Black, James Madison; Jordan Byrd, San Diego State; Nathaniel Dell, Houston; Will Shipley, Clemson; Nohl Williams, UNLV