| Louisville, Ky. – Nov. 6, 2025 – Six players representing the Big Ten, SEC, Sun Belt, ACC and Big 12 Conferences, plus one independent, were named finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football.
Making the list are Washington’s Jonah Coleman, a workhorse running back and prolific scorer and receiver who also returns kickoffs; Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, a standout wide receiver who has returned two punts for touchdowns; James Madison’s Wayne Knight, a speedy running back who also returns punts and kickoffs; Louisville’s Caullin Lacy, a blazing wide receiver and primary kickoff and punt return specialist with two scores handling punts; Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, a dynamic running back with scores rushing and receiving plus two, 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns; and Texas Tech’s J’Koby Williams, an outstanding running back and receiver out of the backfield with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 16th season, is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). The Award pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in downtown Louisville in March 2026. For information about the dinner, contact Julie Howell at 502-587-6742 or JHowell@Louisvillesports.org.
“These guys are true gamers, just like Paul Hornung,” said Greg Fante, LSC president and CEO. “When he played for Notre Dame, Paul excelled on offense, defense and special teams, always doing whatever it took to help his team win. He would be proud of this year’s finalists.”
Jonah Coleman, Washington
Senior / 5-9, 220 lbs.
Running back/return specialist
Stockton, Calif.
A workhorse running back who sees spot duty returning kickoffs, Coleman has 126 carries and a 5.1 per carry average, ranks third on the team in receptions and averages nearly 20 touches per game from scrimmage. He leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally in rushing touchdowns, is fourth nationally in scoring. Coleman made the Honor Roll in Week Six when he touched the ball 28 times three different ways and scored the game-winning touchdown when the Huskies overcame a 20-point deficit to shock Maryland 24-20 in College Park. He also made the Honor Roll in Week One with 225 all-purpose yards rushing, receiving, handled a kickoff and punt return and scored twice on the ground in the Huskies’ win over Colorado State.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 1,016 yards, 127.0 per game
- Rushing: 126 rushes, 643 yards, 13 touchdowns
- Receiving: 27 receptions, 316 yards, two touchdowns
- Kick Return: three kickoff returns, 57 yards
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Junior / 5-11, 190 lbs.
Wide receiver / return specialist
Charlotte, N.C.
A prolific scorer at wide receiver, Concepcion has seven touchdowns, five carries for 9.4 yards per carry and is a dangerous punt returner. He is tied for second nationally and in the SEC in punt return touchdowns and ranks second in the SEC in average yards per return. Concepcion made a major impact two different ways when the Aggies overwhelmed LSU at night in Death Valley – hauling in a 15-yard scoring strike late in the first quarter, then racing 79 yards to the end zone with the punt return midway through the third quarter to seal the win. He made the Honor Roll in Week Six, touching the ball nine times three different ways and scoring two touchdown receptions in A&M’s home win over Mississippi State, including the game-winner late in the third quarter.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 901 yards, 112.6 per game
- Rushing: five rushes, 47 yards
- Receiving: 36 receptions, 545 yards, seven touchdowns
- Punt Return: 14 punt returns, 309 yards, two touchdowns
Wayne Knight, James Madison
Junior / 5-7, 190 lbs.
Running back / return specialist
Smyrna, Del.
The team’s leading rusher and one of the top pass game targets also serves as the primary punt returner, averaging 9.2 yards per return. He ranks third in the nation in all-purpose yards. Knight earned the Honor Roll in Week Five when he touched the ball 28 times three different ways for a career-best 199 all-purpose yards and scored on a 40-yard touchdown run in the Knights’ 35-10 home win over Georgia Southern. He made the Honor Roll in Week Six, touching the ball 20 times three different ways and scoring the winning touchdown on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter in James Madison’s 14-7 road win over Georgia State.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 1,103 yards, 137.9 per game
- Rushing: 106 rushes, 659 yards, five touchdowns
- Receiving: 25 receptions, 234 yards
- Kick Return: four kick returns, 89 yards
- Punt Return: 13 punt returns, 121 yards
Caullin Lacy, Louisville
Senior / 5-10, 190 lbs.
Wide receiver / return specialist
Mobile, Ala.
Primarily a wide receiver who also handles kickoff and punt returns, Lacy ranks fifth in the nation in all-purpose yards per game, is tied for second nationally in punt returns for touchdowns and second in the ACC in average yards per punt return. He made the Honor Roll in Week Four, touching the ball 13 times receiving and returning kicks and punts for 268 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the Cards’ 40-17 home win over Bowling Green. Lacy was named Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week in Week 10 in UofL’s come-from-behind win at Virginia Tech with a stellar six-minute stretch in the third quarter: he made a 24-yard touchdown reception, returned a punt 63 yards to the five-yard line setting up the winning score and a returned punt 23 yards to midfield to give the Cardinals excellent field position.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 1,067 yards, 133.4 per game
- Rushing: 10 rushes, 19 yards
- Receiving: 44 receptions, 422 yards
- Kick Return: nine kick returns, 204 yards
- Punt Return: 18 punt returns, 422 yards, two touchdowns
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Junior / 5-11, 210 lbs.
Running back / return specialist
Denison, Tex.
A proven scorer, Price has found the end zone 11 times three different ways – rushing, receiving and on kickoff returns (tied for national lead with two kickoff return touchdowns). He leads the nation with an astounding 40.2 yards per kickoff return and averages 6.7 yards per carry from scrimmage. Price was named Paul Hornung Award National Player-of-the-Week for his massive performance in Notre Dame’s win over USC, touching the ball three different ways for 209 all-purpose yards, two rushing touchdowns and a game-winning 100-yard kickoff return for a score late in the third quarter. He also made a huge impact in the Irish’s 56-30 win over Purdue, recording 214 all-purpose yards, three rushing touchdowns and a 100-yard kickoff return that proved to be the game winner.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 930 yards, 116.3 per game
- Rushing: 85 rushes, 521 yards, eight touchdowns
- Receiving: three receptions, 47 yards, one touchdown
- Kick Return: nine kick returns, 362 yards, two touchdowns
J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech
Sophomore / 5-10, 185 lbs.
Running back / return specialist
Beckville, Tex.
An outstanding athlete who is primarily a running back and prolific pass catcher out of the backfield, Williams also handles kickoff returns. He has scored rushing, receiving and returning kicks and leads the Big 12 in all-purpose yards per game. Williams earned the Honor Roll in Week Nine, touching the ball eight times three different ways and scoring on a 99-yard kickoff return to open the game and a 46-yard reception as the Red Raiders overwhelmed Oklahoma State 42-0 in Lubbock. He made the Honor Roll in Week 10, touching the ball 19 times three different ways – including 17 carries for 135 yards – and scoring on a 43-yard run in Texas Tech’s 43-20 win over Kansas State in Manhattan.
Season stats:
- All-Purpose: 1,032 yards, 114.7 per game
- Rushing: 92 rushes, 525 yards, five touchdowns
- Receiving: 21 receptions, 300 yards, two touchdowns
- Kick Return: four kick returns, 207 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 their performance. A national selection committee comprised of 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 19th vote.
2025 Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
- Week 1: Jonah Coleman, Washington; Quinton Jackson, Rice; Cam Ross, UVA; Smith Snowden, Utah
- Week 2: Rayshon Luke, Fresno State; Adam Randall, Clemson; Sutton Smith, Memphis
- Week 3: Zachariah Branch, Georgia; Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern; Martel Hight, Vanderbilt; Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State; Sutton Smith, Memphis
- Week 4: Caullin Lacy, Louisville; Makai Lemon, USC; Malik Sherrod, Boise State
- Week 5: Luke Altmyer, Illinois; Nahree Biggins, Central Michigan; Wayne Knight, James Madison; Koi Perich, Minnesota
- Week 6: Jonah Coleman, Washington; KC Concepcion, Texas A&M; Parker Kingston, BYU; Wayne Knight, James Madison; Jordan Napier, San Diego State; Victor Snow, Buffalo
- Week 7: Chris Barnes, Wake Forest; Parker Kingston, BYU; King Miller, USC; Koi Perich, Minnesota; Cameron Pettaway, Bowling Green
- Week 8: Jacob De Jesus, Cal; Jaden Nixon, UCF; Jadarian Price, Notre Dame; Victor Snow, Buffalo
- Week 9: Roman Hemby, Indiana; D. J. McKinney, New Mexico; Rayshawn Pleasant, Auburn; Brock Townsend, Central Michigan; J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech
- Week 10: David Amador II, UTSA; Anthony Evans III, Mississippi State; Roman Hemby, Indiana; Caullin Lacy, Louisville; J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech
All votes for the Paul Hornung Award are independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Jones Nale & Mattingly PLC, one of Kentucky’s leading CPA and advisory firms with a long-standing history of serving clients throughout Kentucky, Indiana and the Eastern United States.
Paul Hornung Award Winners:
- 2024: Travis Hunter became the first two-time winner when he averaged 112 snaps per game on offense, defense and special teams and was the first player ever to win the Paul Hornung Award, The Heisman Trophy and six other major awards in the same season.
- 2023: Travis Hunter from Colorado played offense, defense and special teams, averaged 121 snaps per game; on offense was second on the team with 721 receiving yards and five touchdowns; on defense recorded 31 tackles, five interceptions, five pass deflections and two tackles for loss.
- 2022: Jack Colletto of Oregon State played fullback, quarterback and receiver on offense; linebacker and defensive back on defense; and was on all special teams. He scored six touchdowns rushing, completed two passes, made 28 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.
- 2021: Marcus Jones of Houston was an All-American return specialist and lockdown corner who saw duty on offense. He recorded 48 tackles and five interceptions; returned a pair of kickoffs and punts for touchdowns; and caught 10 passes for 109 yards.
- 2020: DeVonta Smith of Alabama topped the nation in receiving yards and yards after catch and averaged 24 yards per punt return leading the Crimson Tide to the national championship. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning punts and was a gunner on punt coverage.
- 2019: Lynn Bowden Jr. of Kentucky made the move from all-purpose receiver/wildcat quarterback/return specialist to quarterback in midseason and led the Wildcats to a 5-2 record and Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
- 2018: Rondale Moore of Purdue was a dynamic All-American freshman sensation who broke the school record for all-purpose yards in a season and a game with 2,215 and 313, respectively.
- 2017: Saquon Barkley of Penn State was an electrifying All-American running back who lined up at slot and wildcat quarterback, and returned kicks and punts;
- 2016: Jabrill Peppers of Michigan played 15 different positions on defense, offense and special teams, and earned first-team All-America at linebacker;
- 2015: Christian McCaffrey of Stanford was a workhorse on offense and special teams who broke the NCAA record for all-purpose yards, finishing with 3,864;
- 2014: Shaq Thompson of Washington was a two-way player, earning first-team All-American honors at linebacker and finished as the Husky’s second-leading rusher at tailback;
- 2013: Odell Beckham Jr. of LSU finished the season ranked second in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference with 2,222 all-purpose yards and 185.2 average yards per game;
- 2012: Tavon Austin of West Virginia earned All-American by scoring 17 touchdowns receiving, rushing, returning kicks and punts; and amassing 2,272 all-purpose yards, including 572 yards versus Oklahoma.
- 2011: Brandon Boykin of Georgia was a lockdown cornerback on defense; scored three touchdowns playing quarterback, running back and slot on offense; and led the SEC in punt and kick returns.
- 2010: Owen Marecic of Stanford was a two-way starter who averaged 110 snaps per game and earned first-team All-Pac-10 at fullback and honorable mention at linebacker.
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