Sophomore Gators running back on Paul Hornung Award Watch List

The Gators will be leaning hard on the ground game this coming season, and this running back will play a large part in its success.

The college football watch lists have been rolling out of late and the most recent one to mention a member of the Florida Gators is the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, which has its eyes on the top running backs in the nation for the coming fall.

Running back [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] earned a mention on behalf of the Orange and Blue when the Louisville Sports Commission made its announcement on Thursday afternoon. The sophomore ground grinder was a Freshman All-SEC selection following his true freshman campaign, leading the team in all-purpose yards with 1,206 and ranked fourth in the FBS among true freshman running backs with 6.1 yards per carry.

The 5-foot-9-inch, 213-pound brother of NFL running back Travis Etienne also stood out on special teams, totaling 421 yards on 17 attempts for an average of 24.8 yards; his longest return was for 48 yards. The younger Etienne finished with the fourth-most rushing yards (719) of any true freshman running back in program history, doing so on just 118 attempts.

The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football.

Hornung is considered by many the most versatile player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the number one 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.

Finalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 15, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 6.

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Jaylen Waddle named to 2020 Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Alabama wide receiver and kick returner Jaylen Waddle was named to the 2020 Paul Hornung Award Watch List on Thursday. 

Alabama wide receiver and kick returner Jaylen Waddle was named to the 2020 Paul Hornung Award Watch List on Thursday.

The Paul Hornung Award is awarded to the most versatile player in college football. Waddle is one of 50 players who is named to the watch list.

Alabama has never had a winner of this award in program history.

Waddle, who will be a junior this season, has not only been predicted to have a dominate role on Alabama’s offense this season, he’s also someone to look out for in the Heisman race.

In his first two seasons, Waddle has recorded 1,408 receiving yards for 13 touchdowns. But he has also been one of the best punt and kickoff returners in the nation. In just two seasons, he has 36 punt returns for 720 yards and  2 touchdowns. Waddle also has 5 kickoff returns for 175 yards and 1 touchdown.

There’s no doubt that with Waddle’s more dynamic role on offense, that Alabama has a great chance to make it back to the CFB Playoff this year.