Jernigan Named to Hornung Award Watch List

LOUISVILLE, KY – The Louisville Sports Commission, with football legend Paul Hornung, today announced the Watch List for the inaugural Paul Hornung Award that will be given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.

Troy University senior receiver/kick returner Jerrel Jernigan is among the 48 players named to the Watch List, which was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on 2009 statistics and expectations heading into the 2010 season. The list will be updated during the course of the season based on players' performances.

“Paul Hornung was a playmaker and the spirit of the Paul Hornung Award is to recognize versatile, high-level performers who make an impact on the game,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “The Watch List is a work in progress, and we are particularly pleased from the outset to draw attention to almost two dozen individuals that have not received recognition with other awards.”

Jernigan, who has also been named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List as one of the top receivers in college football, enters the 2010 season as the fourth leading receiver in Sun Belt Conference history. The Eufaula, Ala., native has 178 career receptions for 2,306 yards. He needs 52 receptions and 413 receiving yards to set new league records in both categories.

Also a dangerous runner and return specialist, Jernigan has amassed 3,892 all-purpose yards in his career. He is 1,340 yards shy of the league record, which was set by Tyrell Fenroy of ULL in 2008.

Nearly half of the players – a total of 23 – do not appear on any major college football award watch list published to date. Most candidates had a minimum of three different “touches” in 2009 – catching, running, passing, returning kicks, returning punts, holding for placements, tackling, deflecting / intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble. In 2009, the 48 players on the list amassed a combined:

o       15,581 rushing yards and 186 TDs
o       19,808 receiving yards and 128 TDs
o       10,187 passing yards and 83 TDs
o       438 punt returns, 4,960 yards, 15 TDs; 822 KOs 21,175 yards and 28 TDs
o       360 total touchdowns and 2,174points
o       374 tackles; eight forced fumbles; 35 passes broken up
o       12 interceptions, two returned for TDs; two fumbles returned for TDs
o       Three blocked kicks

There are 25 seniors, 18 juniors and five sophomores on the list, representing all 11 conferences that are part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Go to www.paulhornungaward.com/candidates for more information on the players.

Players from all FBS teams are 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.

2010 Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Douglas Beaumont, Louisville
Leon Berry, Mississippi State
Brandon Boykin, Georgia
LaVon Brazill, Ohio
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Tyron Carrier, Houston
Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Graig Cooper, Miami
Dwight Dasher, Middle Tennessee
Ricky Dobbs, Navy
Tandon Doss, Indiana
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
David Gilreath, Wisconsin
Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Jeremy Kerley, TCU
Derrick Locke, Kentucky
Owen Marecic, Stanford
Doug Martin, Boise State
Keshawn Martin, Michigan State
Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
James Nixon, Temple
Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
Chris Owusu, Stanford
Eric Page, Toledo
Niles Paul, Nebraska
DeVier Posey, Ohio State
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky
Chris Rainey, Florida
Greg Reid, Florida State
Reggie Rembert, Air Force
Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech
James Rodgers, Oregon St.
Jock Sanders, West Virginia
Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Da'Norris Searcy, North Carolina
Torrey Smith, Maryland
Shaky Smithson, Utah
Jerrard Tarrant, Georgia Tech
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
Shane Vereen, California
Demond Washington, Auburn
Devon Wylie, Fresno State

For additional information on the individuals selected to the 2010 watch list,
visit http://www.paulhornungaward.com/candidates

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 a full service accounting firm. 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.

Troy University Athletics

Jernigan Named to Hornung Award Watch List

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