Indiana Running Back Devonte Williams Added to Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Devonte Williams can impact a game in many ways. He can return kicks, catch passes and run the ball Image: Cam Koenig HoosierHuddle.com

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana redshirt sophomore running back and return specialist Devonte Wiliams is on the 2017 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville Sports Commission announced today.

The Paul Hornung Award, now in its eighth 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 Banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health, to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on March 8, 2018. This will be The Paul Hornung Award's second year as an associate member of the prestigious National College Football Awards Association.

Williams enters 2017 10th on IU's all-time kick return yardage list with 988 yards. The 2016 BTN.com All-Freshman team selection rushed for 147 yards on 48 carries and caught seven passes for 50 yards in 11 games.

He returned 39 kicks for 784 yards, which ranks fifth on the program's single-season list in 11 games. The 784 yards led the Big Ten and ranked 13th nationally.

Williams finished second on the Hoosiers with 1,001 all-purpose yards (91.0 per game) and recorded five 100-plus all-purpose yardage games.

"We have a terrific Watch List again this year," said Paul Hornung, namesake of the Award, who legendary Coach Vince Lombardi called "the most versatile man ever to play the game." "I love the fact that we recognize players who have the skill and the right mind set to play anyplace on the field to help their team win games."
 
The 2017 Watch List is comprised of one graduate student, 23 seniors, 19 juniors, and three sophomores who play a total of nine different positions. They represent 45 universities in 28 states coast-to-coast across the 10 conferences that are part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The ACC leads the conferences with 10 players, followed by the SEC with eight players, and the Big Ten with five players.
 
Players on this year's Watch List accounted for 10,724 rushing yards, 16,853 receiving yards, 13,548 kickoff return yards, 4,092 punt return yards, and 394 total tackles in 2016. Reminiscent of Hornung during his playing days, members of the Watch List demonstrated a knack for scoring numerous ways. Last season the Watch List players combined for 291 total touchdowns in six different ways - passing, rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return, and interception.
 
The 2017 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2016 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations, and expectations heading into the 2017 season. Profiles of each player and information about the Award can be found at www.paulhornungaward.com. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2017 regular season based on performance.
 
Indiana will host Ohio State to open the 2017 season on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The teams will kick off a campaign facing each other for the fifth time (1938, 1952-54) and for the first time in Bloomington. IU last started the year against a Big Ten foe in 1982, a 30-0 whitewashing of Northwestern on Sept. 11.
 
The Hoosiers will host the fourth Thursday night game in Memorial Stadium history: Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 3, 2009 (W, 19-13); Towson on Sept. 2, 2010 (W, 51-17) and Indiana State on Aug. 29, 2013 (W, 73-35). IU jumpstarted its 2016 Foster Farms Bowl season with aThursday evening 34-13 victory at Florida International on Sept. 1.
 
Tickets for Indiana's six home games are available by clicking here, by phone at 1-866-IUSPORTS or in person at the Assembly Hall Ticket Office. In addition to the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers will welcome Florida International (Sept. 16), Georgia Southern (Sept. 23), Michigan (Oct. 14), Wisconsin (Nov. 4) and Rutgers (Nov. 18).  

Indiana Football Preseason Honors
Paul Hornung Award Watch List - Devonte Williams
Jim Thorpe Award Watch List - Rashard Fant
Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List - Rashard Fant, Tegray Scales
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List - Rashard Fant
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List - Tegray Scales
Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List - Tegray Scales