Hornung Award Finalist Joe Adams of Arkansas Set for AT&T Cotton Bowl

Louisville, Ky. (Thursday, January 5, 2012) – Arkansas senior Joe Adams is the fourth and final finalist for the 2011 Paul Hornung Award to the take field in a bowl game. Adams and the Razorbacks face Kansas State at 8pm ET on Friday, Jan. 6 in Arlington, Texas. It will be the 12th appearance in the AT&T Cotton Bowl for the Razorbacks and their first meeting with Kansas State since 1967. 

The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is awarded annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. 

The finalists were chosen by the 16-member Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee with fan voting on Facebook counting for an additional vote. Fans can vote online at www.votepaulhornung.com through Saturday at noon.

Adams saw action as a punt returner, wide receiver and running back in 2011 and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year. He led the SEC in punt return yardage and is the only player in the country to return three punts for touchdowns this season. 

“I think it is important for us that we do a good job on special teams,” said Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. “We certainly won a few games this year where special teams contributed greatly to our success. We feel like we have good specialists in our kicker Zach Hocker and our punter Dylan Breeding and certainly a great returner in Joe Adams and Dennis Johnson.”

Arkansas has returned five kicks for touchdowns in 2011 (3 punts, 2 kickoffs), which is the highest total in the NCAA.

Adams caught 49 passes for 630 yards and averaged over 15 yards per carry when his number was called out of the backfield. 

“They have lots of great talent at receiver, the best punt returner in the nation in WR Joe Adams and he’s out there catching passes and making plays on offense, as well” said Kansas State coach Billy Snyder.

Arkansas will be making its 39th trip to a postseason bowl game. Their last Cotton Bowl victory was a 27-6 victory over No. 14 Texas on Jan. 1, 2000. Arkansas is 12-23-3 in the previous 38 bowl appearances.

Other finalists, Eric Page (Toledo), Brandon Boykin (Georgia) and LaMichael James (Oregon), completed their seasons earlier in the bowl season.

The Paul Hornung Award winner will be selected from among the four Finalists following their participation in bowl games. The winner will be announced on Jan. 9. The winner will be honored on Feb. 2, 2012, at the Galt House in downtown Louisville during the annual Paul Hornung Award banquet, sponsored by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine.

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. Owen Marecic of Stanford, a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and linebacker, was inaugural Paul Hornung Award winner.

All three 2010 Paul Hornung Award finalists now are playing in the NFL: Kentucky’s Randall Cobb (Green Bay Packers), TCU’s Jeremy Kerley (New York Jets) and Marecic (Cleveland Browns). 

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Texas Roadhouse

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 18 years, Texas Roadhouse has grown to more than 350 locations in 47 states. The company is famous for hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread, and its lively atmosphere. In 2007 and 2008 Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies and in 2009 the company was ranked “Best Value” by readers of Consumer Reports magazine. For more information, visit www.texasroadhouse.com.

Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse

Created by the Louisville Sports Commission in 2010, the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award is designed to promote college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best-known and accomplished athletes who has always called Louisville home. Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame and NFL MVP for the Green Bay Packers, set a single season NFL scoring record that stood 46 years. Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called Hornung, “The most versatile man ever to play the game.” A national selection committee comprised of 16 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award, and this year fan voting on Facebook powered by Texas Roadhouse will comprise the 17th vote. All votes are tabulated independently by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton Allen Ford. The winner is honored at a banquet presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine in late January each year in downtown Louisville. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com Fans can also follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.

Louisville Sports Commission

The Louisville Sports Commission is a Kentucky-based 501 c-3 organization whose mission is to attract, host and create quality sporting events and activities in the Louisville area that increase economic vitality; enhance the quality of life; promote healthy lifestyles; and brand Louisville as a great sports town. For more information, visit www.louisvillesports.org and follow the Louisville Sports Commission on Twitter (@SportsinLou).