Four Watch List Members Named Weekly Honorees by Hornung Award

By Robert Sampson, Paul Hornung Award

LOUISVILLE, KY (Nov. 8, 2010) - Four players have been selected "Paul Hornung's Most Versatile Performances of the Week" it was announced Monday by the Louisville Sports Commission. All four were on the Award Watch List announced in August.

Troy's Jerrel Jernigan was honored for the fifth time this season and Tulsa's Damaris Johnson was honored for the second consecutive week. Chris Owusu becomes the second player from Stanford to be honored after leading the No. 10 Cardinal in a win over No. 13 Arizona. Florida International's T.Y. Hilton earned the honor for the first time.

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

· Florida International's T.Y. Hilton recorded 290 all-purpose yards and scored four times in three different ways in the 42-35 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Hilton had four catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including touchdown scores of 67 yards and 20 yards. Hilton had a kick returned 95 yards for a touchdown and four total kick returns for 168 yards. He also carried the ball twice for 24 yards and one touchdown, returned a punt and recorded a tackle after a Louisiana-Monroe interception.

· Troy's Jerrel Jernigan accounted for 258 yards and became the Sun Belt Conference career leader in all-purpose yards in the Trojan's 41-35 win at North Texas. Jernigan had six carries for 89 yards, including a 55 yard run to complement his four receptions for 57 yards. Jernigan was also 2-of-2 passing for 18 yards and one touchdown and had three punt returns for 28 yards and two kickoff returns for 66 yards.

· Stanford's Chris Owusu led the No. 10-ranked Cardinal with nine catches for 165 yards and one touchdown to a 42-17 win over No. 13 Arizona. Owusu rushed once for 12 yards and had four kickoff returns for 84 yards totaling 261 total all-purpose yards.

· Tulsa's Damaris Johnson had a huge day with 322 all-purpose yards. He caught eight passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, ran twice for 22 yards, returned three kicks for 134 yards, including a 94-yard touchdown return in a 64-27 win over Rice. Johnson also returned one punt.

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 Ten: T.Y. Hilton (Florida International), Jerrel Jernigan (Troy), Damaris Johnson (Tulsa) and Chris Owusu (Stanford).

Week Nine: Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Dwayne Harris (East Carolina), Damaris Johnson (Tulsa), Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State) and Demond Washington (Auburn), .

Week Eight: Andre Ellington (Clemson), Owen Marecic (Stanford), Niles Paul (Nebraska) and Trent Richardson (Alabama), Pat Shed (UAB).

Week Seven: David Gilreath (Wisconsin), Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Jerrel Jernigan (Troy), Tandon Doss (Indiana) and Trent Richardson (Alabama).

Week Six: Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Mohammed Sanu (Rutgers), Greg Reid (Florida State) and Shaky Smithson (Utah).

Week Five: Randall Cobb (Kentucky), Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Tandon Doss (Indiana).

Week Four: Owen Marecic (Stanford), Jeremy Kerley (TCU), Trent Richardson (Alabama), Terrell Pryor (Ohio State), Trey Burton (Florida), Jerrel Jernigan (Troy), DJ Woods (Cincinnati) and Titus Young (Boise State).

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. The winner will be honored at the Paul Hornung Award Banquet presented by Jewish Sports Medicine January 25 at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville. 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 partnership 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.