Eight Named as “Paul Hornung’s Most Versatile Performances of the Week”

By Robert Sampson, Paul Hornung Award

LOUISVILLE, KY (Sept. 27, 2010) – Eight players from around the nation have been named "Paul Hornung's Most Versatile Performances of the Week," it was announced Monday by Paul Hornung and the Louisville Sports Commission.

The weekly award honorees highlight elite performances from the previous week in college football that display the same versatility on the field as the legendary Paul Hornung.

Jerrel Jernigan (Troy) and Jeremy Kerley (TCU) are both making their third appearance on the honoree list this season while Trent Richardson (Alabama) makes the list for the second consecutive week.

Week Four Honorees:

• Stanford’s Owen Marecic (MARIE-sick) scored on both offense and defense on consecutive plays from scrimmage within a 13 second span of a 37-14 win over Notre Dame. On offense, Marecic had three caries for three yards and a touchdown. He also had a four-yard reception. On defense, Marecic returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown. He had five tackles, including one for loss. Marecic saw action on 91 total plays, 50 on defense and 41 on offense for the Cardinal. It was the first time since Eric Weddle (now with the NFL Chargers) ran two interceptions and scored a rushing TD for Utah against San Diego State on September 23, 2006 that a BCS eligible player scored on offense and defense. It is the fourth time it has happened since 2003.

• TCU’s Jeremy Kerley set a career high with 234 all-purpose yards and five different type touches in a 41-24 win over SMU on Friday, Sept. 24. Kerely had one carry for six yards, four receptions for 33 yards, two punt returns for 23 yards and five kick returns for 172 yards, including an 83 yard return in the third quarter that set up a go-ahead touchdown after the Horned Frogs fell behind 17-14. It was the longest return of his career. Kerley also completed one pass for 11 yards.

• Alabama's Trent Richardson posted 227 all-purpose yardage in a 24-20 win over Arkansas on Sept. 25. Richardson had eight carries for 85 yards including two touchdowns, two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown and four kick returns for 117 yards. Richardson scored on a screen pass late in the third quarter and converted a key third quarter field down out of the Wildcat Formation.

• Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor had 104 rushing yards on seven carries with a touchdown, caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and was 20-of-26 for 224 yards and four touchdowns in a 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 25.

• Florida’s Trey Burton, a true freshman quarterback, ran five times for 40 yards, scoring a touchdown on each of his five carries in a win over Kentucky on Sept. 25. He completed one pass for 42 yards and had five receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. Burton became the first SEC player since Cadillac Williams of Auburn in 2003 to have six touchdowns in a game. He is just the fourth player in SEC history to reach the mark.

• Troy’s Jerrel Jernigan had 311 all-purpose yards in a 35-28 win over Arkansas State. He recorded ten catches for 209 yards with a touchdown, five carries for 31 yards, one punt return for 10 yards and 3 kick returns for 61 yards.

• Cincinnati’s DJ Woods had seven receptions for 173 yards including a touchdown in a 31-29 loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 25. Woods had one carry, three punt returns for 39 yards and four kick returns for 73 yards in the game. It was the best game of his career in the return game, setting new personal bests in punt and kick return yardage. Total all-purpose yards – 285.

• Boise State’s Titus Young had five receptions for 136 yards, including a score, five kick returns for 127 yards and three punt returns for seven yards in a 37-24 win over Oregon State on Sept. 25. He added three carries for 18 yards as the Broncos remained undefeated. Total all-purpose yards – 288.

A weekly, up-to-date rundown of the individual accomplishments of each player on the Watch List can be found on the official website of the Paul Hornung Award at www.paulhornungaward.com.

Past Weekly Honorees

Week Three: Jeremy Kerley (TCU), James Rodgers (Oregon State), DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma), Trent Richardson (Alabama) and Torrey Smith (Maryland).

Week Two: Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Denard Robinson (Michigan), Jeffery Demps (Florida), Jerrel Jernigan (Troy), Joe Lefeged (Rutgers), Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers), Kenjon Barner (Oregon), Owen Marecic (Stanford), Keshawn Martin (Michigan State).

Week One: Dwayne Harris (East Carolina), Brandon Bing (Rutgers), Demaris Johnson (Tulsa), Austin Pettis (Boise State), Kenjon Barner (Oregon), Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Patrick Peterson (LSU), Jerrel Jernigan (Troy) and Jeremy Kerley (TCU).

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Paul Hornung Award

Created by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award is designed to recognize versatile, high-level performers in major college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky’s best known athletes. A panel of experts will select the inaugural winner in early January 2011. The votes will be tabulated by Dean Dorton Allen Ford. Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He played every position in the backfield during his career with the Irish, where he also punted, kicked, returned kicks and played defensive back and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points and was named League MVP following the 1961 season. Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung, “The most versatile man ever to play the game.” Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and resides in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. More information go to www.paulhornungaward.com. 

Louisville Sports Commission

In the spirit of partnerhsip with Paul Hornung, the Louisville Sports commission (LSC) will oversee and administer all aspects of the Paul Hornung Award including budget, selection process, marketing and PR, banquet, trophy, sponsorships, etc. An Advisory Committee co-chaired by LSC Chairman Steve Higdon and Executive Director Karl Schmitt and comprised of LSC Board leadership and local business leaders will provide guidance and insure integrity of the Award. The Louisville Sports Commission is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501-c (3) organization committed to creating a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports. LSC attracts and hosts sporting events and activities that have a positive economic impact on the City, enhance the image of the Louisville area as a premier sports destination, promote healthy lifestyles and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages. More information on the LSC is available at www.louisvillesports.org and on our Facebook fan page.