Paul Hornung Award tabs Rivers to watch list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fresno State junior running back Ronnie Rivers was named on Thursday by the Louisville Sports Commission to the preseason watch list for the 2019 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse. The award, now in its tenth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in college football.

Rivers was among 44 multi-talented college football players named to the 2019 watch list, and one of three from the Mountain West joining Juwan Washington (San Diego State) and Avery Williams (Boise State).

In addition to being a starting running back for the 'Dogs, Rivers has proven to have sure hands catching passes out of the back field while also serving as a primary punt returner. In Rivers' first two seasons, he owns 1,223 career rushing yards, but boasts 1,836 career all-purpose yards.

To view the entire Paul Hornung watch list, visit www.louisvillesports.org/paul-hornung.

A glance at Rivers:

Closed sophomore season as the MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl – posting the fourth-most all-purpose yards in school history with 286 (212 rush/41 punt return/33 receiving) in the Bulldogs' win over Arizona State on Dec. 15.
Recorded 108.4 all-purpose yards per game in 2018, ranking as the fourth-most in the Mountain West.
Averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a sophomore.
Rushed for 63 yards on 17 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Boise State in the 2018 Mountain West Championship on Dec. 1.
Appeared in 11 games after missing the first three games of the season. Made six starts coming off an injury prior to the season that occurred during the spring.

About the Paul Hornung Award
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. The winner of the award and his family will be honored at a banquet in downtown Louisville, Ky. 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 demonstrate the same versatility on the football field as Hornung did at Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers.

The Paul Hornung Award has an impressive legacy. Rondale Moore, the 2018 Paul Hornung Award winner, was named a consensus All-American and Big Ten Receiver of the Year as a true freshman; two of the five 2018 finalists currently are on NFL rosters, and the other three finalists are on the 2018 Watch List. Six of the eight Hornung Award winners prior to Moore were first round draft picks and currently are playing in the NFL.

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 on March 4, 2020. This will be The Paul Hornung Award's third year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association.

The following is the entire 2019 preseason watch list calendar:

Monday, July 15: Bednarik Award & Maxwell Award
Tuesday, July 16: Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 17: Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 18: Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 19: Mackey Award & Rimington Award
Monday, July 22: Thorpe Award & Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 23: Outland Trophy & Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 24: Groza Award & Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 25: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 26: Walter Camp Award

The 2019 season opens in Bulldog Stadium in 44 days, grab your tickets today:

Season tickets, starting as low as $99 - link
4-game mini plan (Minnesota plus 3 games) - link
3-game mini plan - link
Group ticket discounts and tailgate space - link
$79 Bulldog Pass for faculty, staff and young alumni - link
Mad Duck 10-Pack - link
Minnesota single game tickets on sale now - link

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.

Fresno State Athletics

Paul Hornung Award tabs Rivers to watch list

Related News

Players Mentioned

Ronnie Rivers

Related Videos