Three Added to Paul Hornung Award Watch List

By Robert Sampson, Paul Hornung Award

LOUISVILLE, KY (Sept. 22, 2010) - Michigan's Denard Robinson, Alabama's Trent Richardson and Florida's Jeffery Demps have been added to the watch list for the 2010 Paul Hornung Award.

Robinson, a sophomore quarterback from Deerfield Beach, Florida, has led the Wolverines to a 3-0 record entering Saturday's contest with Bowling Green. Robinson has run for run for 559 yards on 74 attempts (7.6 per carry, 186.3 per game) and is 53-of-76 (69.7) for 671 yards and four touchdowns through the air with only one interception. Robinson has accounted for 1,230 yards of total offense, an average of 410.0 yards per game. He also had a 30-yard punt to his credit that landed inside the 20 yard line.

Richardson, a sophomore running back from Pensacola, Florida, has led the top-ranked Tide to a 3-0 record. Richardson has run for 271 yards on 39 carries with four touchdowns. He had eight catches for 101 yards, four kick returns for 165 yards with a touchdown. He has scored 30 points over three games. In his last outing, Richardson had two kick returns for 114 yards, seven carries for 61 yard with one touchdown and one reception for nine yards in a 62-13 win over Duke in Durham on Sept. 18. His 91 yard kickoff return for touchdown was the first for an Alabama player since 2004.

Demps, a junior running back from Winter Garden, Florida, has run for 310 yards on 45 attempts with two touchdowns in three wins for the Gators. He is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Demps has caught eight passes for 59 yards and has six kick returns for 221 yards (36.8 per return). He had three returns of over 40 yards this season. Demps has totaled 590 all-purpose yards in three games, an average of 196.7 per game, and ranks third nationally in all-purpose yardage. Demps is also a member of the Gators' track team.

The award recognizes versatile, high-level players in major college football with players from all FBS teams being eligible. Appearing on the Watch List is not a prerequisite for winning the Award. The Selection Committee will narrow the field to approximately 10-15 Finalists at the end of the regular season in early December then will select the winner at or near the end of the bowl season in early January.

Week Four Matchup: Three Southeastern Conference games highlight the six games this week featuring head-to-head matchups of Paul Hornung Award candidates. Through four weeks of the college football season, a total of 28 games have featured multiple Hornung Award candidates.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: Leon Berry (Mississippi State) vs. Brandon Boykin (Georgia) at 7:00 p.m. ET on FSN

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke (Kentucky) vs. Jeffery Demps and Chris Rainey (Florida) at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: Stephone Gilmore (South Carolina) vs. Demond Washington (Auburn) at 7:45 p.m. ET on ESPN

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: T.Y. Hilton (Florida International) vs. Torrey Smith (Maryland) at noon ET on ESPNU

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: Doug Martin (Boise State) vs. James Rodgers (Oregon State) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and as part of ESPN's College Game Day.

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010: Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers) vs. Da'Norris Searcy (North Carolina) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU

Follow Weekly Schedule on Twitter @hornungaward: Fans and media are encouraged to follow the official Twitter page of the Paul Hornung Award (@hornungaward) to get a weekly schedule of the games being played. Tweets are made between 30 and 60 minutes before kickoff, allowing fans a reminder of when games involving Paul Hornung Award candidates are being played.

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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 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.