Four Offensive Players Lead Teams to High-Scoring Conference Wins
Three Seniors and a True Freshman Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
Louisville, Ky. – Oct. 12, 2020 – Four skill position players who double as return specialists earned the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll this past weekend by combining for 963 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns, helping their teams to wild offensive shootout wins: Auburn running back Tank Bigsby, North Carolina running back Michael Carter, Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith and Houston wide receiver Marquez Stevenson.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, 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 at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March 2021.
Auburn true freshman running back Tank Bigbsy touched the ball 28 times for 268 all-purpose yards as Auburn edged Arkansas at home, 30-28. Bigsby rushed 20 times for 146 yards, including three caries for 25 yards in the War Eagles’ winning field goal drive to end the game. Bigsby caught four passes for 16 yards, accounted for seven first downs and returned four kickoffs for 106 yards.
North Carolina senior wide receiver Michael Carter touched the ball 19 times for 254 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns as the Tar Heels won at home, 56-46 over Virginia Tech. Carter carried the ball 17 times for 214 yards, caught one pass for 16 yards and accounted for nine first downs. He scored on a 16-yard run in the third quarter and a 62-yard run in the mid-fourth quarter to ice the game. He also returned a kickoff 22 yards.
Alabama senior wide receiver Devonta Smith touched the ball 15 times for 220 all-purpose yards and two scores as the Crimson Tide outlasted Ole Miss 63-48 in Oxford. Smith caught 13 passes for 134 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and accounted for eight first downs receiving. He scored on a 14-yard run late in the fourth quarter to extend the Tide’s lead to 56-45. He also returned two kicks for 42 yards.
Houston senior wide receiver Marquez Stevenson touched the ball seven times for 224 all-purpose yards and two scores in the Cougars’ long-awaited opener, a 49-31 home victory over Tulane. Stevenson returned a kickoff 97 yards in the third quarter for what proved to be the winning score, and added a 14-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. He had five receptions for 144 yards and one carry for eight yards.
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 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 18th vote. Regional accounting firm Dean Dorton independently tabulates all votes. For more information, visit www.paulhornungaward.com. Fans also can follow online on Twitter (@hornungaward) and Become a Fan on Facebook.
