Rivers adds Paul Hornung Award watch list to preseason accolades

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Fresno State senior running back Ronnie Rivers adds another preseason honor to the list this season as he was announced Thursday to the 2021 Paul Hornung Award watch list. Rivers earns a spot on the award's watch list for the third-straight season.

The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is given annually to the most versatile player in college football.

Rivers finished the 2020 season as the Bulldogs' leading rusher, tallying 507 yards on 100 carries. He ran in for seven rushing touchdowns. He totaled 818 all-purpose yards (507 rush, 265 receiving, 46 punt ret.), and had at least 100 all-purpose yards in five of six games last season. The Brentwood, Calif. native led the Mountain West in all-purpose yards per game (163.8), was second in scoring with nine touchdowns (9.0 points per game), and was third in rushing yards per game (84.5) in 2020.

Rivers has proven himself to be one of the best running backs to ever do it at Fresno State as he finished the 2020 season tied for the program record for most touchdowns scored in a career (44). The senior is also tied for the program record with 116 career pass receptions by a running back and is tied for third in the record books in all-time career rushing touchdowns with 35. Rivers is just one of seven Bulldogs to ever reach 4,000 all-purpose yards in their career.

The 2021 Paul Hornung Award watch list boasts 57 multi-talented college football players from around the country. Rivers joins four others from the Mountain West on the list.

The 2021 watch list was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2020 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2021 season. In addition to the watch list, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award's criteria. Players from both the watch list and the Honor Roll will be eligible to win the Award.

A Glance at Rivers' preseason
Paul Hornung Award watch list
Preseason All-Mountain West
Maxwell Award watch list
Doak Walker Award candidate
First team preseason All-Mountain West selection by Athlon Sports
First team preseason All-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele

For a complete list of 2021 NCFAA watch lists announced this summer, visit ncfaa.org.

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Rivers adds Paul Hornung Award watch list to preseason accolades

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