Award for Most Versatile Player in Major College Football Presented by Texas Roadhouse

Louisville, Ky. – Dec. 10, 2025 – Texas A&M wide receiver/return specialist KC Conception, a long-distance threat and major impact player who helped lead the Aggies to an 11-1 regular season record and a spot in the College Football playoffs, has been named the winner of the 2025 Paul Hornung Award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. Concepcion is the fifth player from the SEC and the first Aggie to win the Award.

 

The Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son and to recognize outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed. The Award is owned and operated by LSC and presented by Texas Roadhouse. The announcement of the winner was made today by LSC President and CEO Greg Fante.

Concepcion ranks in the top 10 nationally in six categories and in the top 10 in the SEC in receiving and punt returns. He is one of just nine FBS players with touchdowns receiving, rushing and returning punts and has recorded 40 receptions of 10 yards or more. He ranks third nationally with a 20-yard punt return average and two punt-return touchdowns, leads the nation with two punt returns longer than 70 yards and is third with five returns of 30-plus yards. Concepcion tied for the SEC lead with nine touchdown receptions, ranked fourth in the SEC in all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game, and finished eighth nationally with 15.5 yards per catch.

“I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to receive such an amazing honor,” said KC Concepcion. “The Paul Hornung Award represents doing whatever it takes to help your team win, and that has always been my mindset. This recognition is a testament to the coaches who have trusted me in so many roles and the teammates who push me to be better every day. I’m thankful for my family and for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.”

“KC is one of the most versatile and dynamic players in the country, and this award is a tremendous recognition of the impact he’s made on our program,” said Texas A&M Head Football Coach Mike Elko. “His ability to change the game in so many different ways speaks to his work ethic, his toughness and his commitment to this team. We’re incredibly proud of him and grateful that the Paul Hornung Award committee recognized what we see from him every single day.”

When the Aggies overwhelmed LSU at night in Death Valley, Concepcion made a major impact on offense and special teams – hauling in a 15-yard scoring strike late in the first quarter, then racing 79 yards to the end zone with the punt return mid third quarter that put the game out of reach. In the Aggies’ wild, come-from-behind home win over South Carolina, Concepcion recorded 200 all-purpose yards and accounted for four first downs on scoring drives. He touched the ball nine times three different ways and caught two touchdown passes in A&M’s home win over Mississippi State, including what proved to be the game-winner late in the third quarter. In Week 11, he caught a 48-yard touchdown pass for the game-winning score in the Aggies’ 38-17 road win over Missouri.

KC Concepcion Season stats:

• All-Purpose: 1,409 yards, 117.4 per game
• Rushing: eight rushes, 63 yards, one touchdown
• Receiving: 57 receptions, 886 yards, nine touchdowns
• Punt Return: 23 punt returns, 460 yards, two touchdowns

 

The Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee, comprised of 19 sports journalists and football experts from across the country, selected Concepcion from among the six finalists announced on Nov. 6. An online vote powered by Texas Roadhouse accounted for the 20^th vote.

Regional accounting firm Jones Nale independently tabulates all votes for the Paul Hornung Award & Mattingly PLC, one of Kentucky’s leading CPA and advisory firms with a long-standing history of serving clients throughout Kentucky, Indiana and the Eastern United States.

Previous Paul Hornung Award winners by year:

• 2024: Travis Hunter became the first two-time winner when he averaged 112 snaps per game on offense, defense and special teams and was the first player ever to win the Paul Hornung Award, The Heisman Trophy and six other major awards in the same season.
• 2023: Travis Hunter from Colorado played offense, defense and special teams, averaged 121 snaps per game; on offense was second on the team with 721 receiving yards and five touchdowns; on defense recorded 31 tackles, five interceptions, five pass deflections and two tackles for loss.
• 2022: Jack Colletto of Oregon State played fullback, quarterback and receiver on offense; linebacker and defensive back on defense; and was on all special teams. He scored six touchdowns rushing, completed two passes, made 28 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.
• 2021: Marcus Jones of Houston was an All-American return specialist and lockdown corner who saw duty on offense. He recorded 48 tackles and five interceptions; returned a pair of kickoffs and punts for touchdowns; and caught 10 passes for 109 yards.
• 2020: DeVonta Smith of Alabama topped the nation in receiving yards and yards after catch and averaged 24 yards per punt return leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning punts and was a gunner on punt coverage.
• 2019: Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky made the move from all-purpose receiver/wildcat quarterback/return specialist to quarterback in midseason and led the Wildcats to a 5-2 record and Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
• 2018: Rondale Moore of Purdue was a dynamic All-American freshman sensation who broke the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and a game with 2,215 and 313, respectively.
• 2017: Saquon Barkley of Penn State was an electrifying All-American running back who lined up at slot and wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts.
• 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan played 15 different positions on defense, offense and special teams, and earned first-team All-America at linebacker.
• 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford was a workhorse on offense and special teams who broke the NCAA record for all-purpose yards, finishing with 3,864.
• 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington was a two-way player, earning first-team All-American honors at linebacker and finished as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback.
• 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU finished the season ranked second in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference with 2,222 all-purpose yards and 185.2 average yards per game.
• 2012: Tavon Austin of West Virginia earned All-American by scoring 17 touchdowns receiving, rushing, returning kicks and punts; and amassing 2,272 all-purpose yards, including 572 yards versus Oklahoma.
• 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia was a lockdown cornerback on defense; scored three touchdowns playing quarterback, running back and slot on offense; and led the SEC in punt and kick returns.
• 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford was a two-way starter who averaged 110 snaps per game and earned first-team All-Pac-10 at fullback and honorable mention at linebacker.