The Louisville Sports Commission announced on Thursday that UCLA running back/kick returner Demetric Felton has been named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse. The award recognizes the nation's most versatile player in major college football.
Felton set a UCLA record for running backs last season with 55 receptions, a total which ranked tied for second in the nation among players at the position. He also established a new school single-season mark with four touchdowns of at least 75 yards in length, including a kickoff return for a score --- 75-yard reception at Cincinnati, 94-yard reception at Washington State, 100-yard kickoff return at Washington State and 75-yard run versus Oregon State. The redshirt senior recorded multiple receptions in all 12 games during the season, with a high of nine catches against the Beavers, which matched the school single-game mark by a running back. On the season, he rushed for 311 yards on 86 carries. Felton recorded 15 overall touches on the year which resulted in a gain of at least 20 yards. He ran for a season-best 111 yards against Oregon State to become the first Bruin to register a 100-yard receiving and a 100-yard rushing game in the same season since 2005 (Chris Markey).
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 11th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March of 2021. This will be The Paul Hornung Award's fourth year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association.
"We created this award as a way to reward college players who selflessly take on the burden of playing multiple positions, and excel at a high level the way Paul Hornung did for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers," said Karl Schmitt, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, owners and operators of the Award. "In addition, we wanted to introduce young players to the legacy of Hornung, who said he would do anything his coach asked of him to help his team win games."
Hornung, who still lives in his hometown of Louisville, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game."
The 2020 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2019 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2020 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award's criteria.
Felton set a UCLA record for running backs last season with 55 receptions, a total which ranked tied for second in the nation among players at the position. He also established a new school single-season mark with four touchdowns of at least 75 yards in length, including a kickoff return for a score --- 75-yard reception at Cincinnati, 94-yard reception at Washington State, 100-yard kickoff return at Washington State and 75-yard run versus Oregon State. The redshirt senior recorded multiple receptions in all 12 games during the season, with a high of nine catches against the Beavers, which matched the school single-game mark by a running back. On the season, he rushed for 311 yards on 86 carries. Felton recorded 15 overall touches on the year which resulted in a gain of at least 20 yards. He ran for a season-best 111 yards against Oregon State to become the first Bruin to register a 100-yard receiving and a 100-yard rushing game in the same season since 2005 (Chris Markey).
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 11th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March of 2021. This will be The Paul Hornung Award's fourth year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association.
"We created this award as a way to reward college players who selflessly take on the burden of playing multiple positions, and excel at a high level the way Paul Hornung did for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers," said Karl Schmitt, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, owners and operators of the Award. "In addition, we wanted to introduce young players to the legacy of Hornung, who said he would do anything his coach asked of him to help his team win games."
Hornung, who still lives in his hometown of Louisville, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game."
The 2020 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2019 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2020 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award's criteria.