Virginia Tech vs. Clemson is Hornung Award Game of the Week

Louisville, Ky. (Wednesday, November 30, 2011) – Virginia Tech faces Clemson in the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game in this week’s Paul Hornung Award Game of the Week. The game kickoff at 8pm ET on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium.

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.

Players from both Virginia Tech and Clemson have been highlighted throughout the season by the Paul Hornung Award in both the preseason watch list and in the Weekly Honor Roll selections.

Virginia Tech had two preseason watch list selections in David Wilson and Jayron Hosley. 

Wilson also picked up a weekly honor roll selection after he had 23 carries for 128 yards, four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown, five kick returns for 88 yards for a total of 241 all-purpose yards in the 38-35 win over Miami on Oct. 8 as he was named to the Weekly Honor Roll. Wilson has run for nearly 1,600 yards this season in addition to 18 receptions and 20 kickoff returns.

Hosley has three interceptions this season for the Hokies and ranked 12th nationally in yards per punt return at 12.0. He added 56 tackles and eight pass breakups to his resume for the 2011 season.

Clemson’s Sammy Watkins was a two-time selection to the Weekly Honor Roll in 2011 while Andre Ellington was a selection to the preseason watch list.

Watkins had one carry for 33 yards, eight receptions for 105 yards with two touchdowns, one punt return and five kick returns for 207 yards with an 89-yard touchdown in a come from behind 56-45 win over Maryland on Oct. 15. His 345 all-purpose yards broke C.J. Spiller’s school record. In an Oct. 29 game against Georgia Tech, Watkins had one carry for seven yards, completed a pass for nine yards, caught ten passes for 159 yards and had six kick returns for 124 yards. 

For the year, the freshman caught 72 passes for 1,073 yards and ten touchdowns. He also ran the ball 26 times and had 25 kickoff returns including one for a touchdown. He also returned two punts. Watkins ranks fourth in the nation in all-purpose running.

Ellington has rushed for 937 yards and nine touchdowns this season while posting 20 receptions and five kick returns.

The winner of the game will likely face Cincinnati or Louisville in the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl on January 4 in Miami.

Fan Voting Continues: A total of 63 players are listed at www.votepaulhornung.com where voting for finalists of the Paul Hornung Award will continue until December 4. Fans can vote once daily to help select the finalists on the Facebook page powered by Texas Roadhouse.

Although all players in FBS are eligible for the award, fans can currently vote for 63 players eligible for fan voting on the Facebook page. To be eligible for fan voting, a player must be selected to the Weekly Honor Roll or be a member of the preseason watch list.

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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 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).