Four Players from Four Conferences Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll in Week 8
Week 8 Honor Roll: Easton Messer, FAU; Dylan Riley, Boise State; Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma; Nate Sheppard, Duke
Award Presented by Texas Roadhouse to Most Versatile Player in Major College Football
Louisville, Ky. – Oct. 27, 2026 – Four players representing the AAC, Pac-12, SEC and ACC were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in Week 8 of the college football season. Making the list are Easton Messer, FAU; Dylan Riley, Boise State; Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma; and Nate Sheppard, Duke.
The National College Football Awards Association will honor Messer as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week for his performance in FAU’s 51-49 home win over Rice.
FAU senior wide receiver / return specialist Easton Messer touched the ball 17 times three different ways for 262 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner, in the Owls’ 51-49 shootout win over Rice at home. Messer caught 12 passes for 162 yards, including scoring receptions of one and 62 yards; carried the ball three times for 18 yards, including scoring runs of two and five yards; and returned a punt 82 yards for a score late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner. He accounted for seven first downs from scrimmage, five on scoring drives, and fair caught a punt.
Boise State junior running back / specialist Dylan Riley touched the ball 15 times three different ways for 158 all-purpose yards and two scores in the Broncos’ 31-10 road win over Washington State. Riley carried the ball 13 times for 158 yards, caught one pass and returned a kickoff 25 yards. In the fourth quarter, with Boise nursing a 17-10 lead, Riley scored on runs of 33 and 72 yards that put the game out of reach.
Oklahoma senior wide receiver / return specialist Isaiah Sategna III touched the ball 13 times three different ways for 182 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the Sooners’ 23-15 road win over Mississippi State. Sategna caught eight passes for 164 yards, including a 36-yard scoring reception in the first quarter. He carried the ball three times for 24 yards and accounted for six first downs from scrimmage, five on scoring drives. Sategna also handled two punt returns.
Duke sophomore running back Nate Sheppard touched the ball 18 times three different ways for 94 total yards and accounted for both Blue Devils’ scores, including the game-winner, in a gritty, 19-16 road win over UVA. Sheppard carried the ball 15 times for 55 yards, scored on a 32-yard run in the first quarter, and caught two passes for 11 yards. With 1:14 remaining in the game, Sheppard hauled in a lateral, then threw a 28-yard scoring pass that put Duke ahead for good.
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 who often go unnoticed. Each week during the regular season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 19th vote.
2026 Paul Hornung Award Roll
- Week 1: Wayne Knight, UCLA; Turbo Richard, Indiana; Tre Richardson, Louisville; Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma; Aneyas Williams, Notre Dame.
- Week 2: Maguire Anderson, FIU; Anthony Evans III, Mississippi State; Cam’rom Lacy, Middle Tennessee; Hollywood Smothers, Texas
- Week 3: Aiden Flora, Iowa State; Davian Jackson, Texas State; Wayne Knight, UCLA; Caleb Nix, Jacksonville State; Keenan Phillips, South Alabama
- Week 4: Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama; Dierre Hill, Jr., Oregon; Javen Jacobs, Utah State; Wayne Knight, UCLA; Qua Moss, Tennessee
- Week 5: Aiden Flora, Iowa State; Samari Howard, Army; Dijon Lee Jr., Alabama; Jonaz Walton, Notre Dame
- Week 6: Isaac Brown, Louisville; Wayne Knight, UCLA; Keenan Phillips, South Alabama; Dylan Riley, Boise State
- Week 7: Jadan Baugh, Florida; Que’Sean Brown, Virginia Tech; Malachi Toney, Miami; Jackson Williams, North Dakota State; J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech