Preseason Rankings Loaded With Watch List Selections

Louisville, Ky. (Wednesday, August 24, 2011) - Five players on the 2011 Paul Hornung Award Watch List are on teams ranked among the top three teams in the nation in both the AP and USA Today in their respective preseason rankings. Oregon's Cliff Harris, Josh Huff and Kenjon Barner join Alabama's Marquis Maze and Trent Richardson in the top five nationally.

The watch list for the 2011 Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, was released on Aug. 8 by the Louisville Sports Commission. The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung.

Overall, 19 players on the watch list are on teams ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press rankings. An additional nine players were on teams that were unranked but received votes in the rankings. 18 players are on teams ranked by USA Today while an additional 12 players are on teams that received votes in the rankings.

Texas Roadhouse signed on as presenting sponsor of the Paul Hornung Award in 2011 and will team with the Louisville Sports Commission to power fan voting on Facebook. College football fans nationwide will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player during the regular season and again during the bowl season. Fan voting will open in late September and factor into selection of the finalists and winner.

Players from all FBS teams are eligible and appearing on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List is not a prerequisite for winning the Award. The Selection Committee, comprised of 16 national sports journalists and former college and NFL players, will narrow the field to approximately 3-5 Finalists in early December then will select the winner from among the Finalists following the bowl season in early January. Finalists will be announced on www.paulhornungaward.com and at the Louisville Sports Commission Breakfast December 9. 

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 that often go unnoticed. Owen Marecic of Stanford, a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and linebacker, won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award in 2010.

Associated Press Poll (Paul Hornung Award Watch List Selection)

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama (Marquis Maze, Trent Richardson)

3. Oregon (Kenjon Barner, Cliff Harris, Josh Huff)

4. LSU

5. Boise State

6. Florida State (Greg Reid)

7. Stanford (Chris Owusu)

8. Texas A&M (Cyrus Gray)

9. Oklahoma State (Joseph Randle)

10. Nebraska

11. Wisconsin

12. South Carolina (Stephon Gilmore)

13. Virginia Tech (Jayron Hosley, David Wilson)

14. TCU

15. Arkansas (Joe Adams)

16. Notre Dame (Cierre Wood)

17. Michigan State (KeShawn Martin)

18. Ohio State

19. Georgia (Brandon Boykin)

20. Mississippi State (Chad Bumphis)

21. Missouri

22. Florida (Jeff Demps)

23. Auburn

24. West Virginia

25. USC (Robert Woods)

USA Today Coaches' Poll (Paul Hornung Award Watch List Selection)

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama (Marquis Maze, Trent Richardson)

3. Oregon (Kenjon Barner, Cliff Harris, Josh Huff)

4. LSU

5. Florida State (Greg Reid)

6. Stanford (Chris Owusu)

7. Boise State

8. Oklahoma State (Joseph Randle)

9. Texas A&M (Cyrus Gray)

10. Wisconsin

11. Nebraska

12. South Carolina (Stephon Gilmore)

13. Virginia Tech (Jayron Hosley, David Wilson)

14. Arkansas (Joe Adams)

15. TCU

16. Ohio State

17. Michigan State (KeShawn Martin)

18. Notre Dame (Cierre Wood)

19. Auburn

20. Mississippi State (Chad Bumphis)

21. Missouri

22. Georgia (Brandon Boykin)

23. Florida (Jeff Demps)

24. Texas

25. Penn State

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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 46 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 Medicinein late January each year in downtown Louisville. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com Fans can also follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) andBecome 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 place to live, work and play. For more information, visit www.louisvillesports.org and follow the Louisville Sports Commission on Twitter (@SportsinLou).