In an announcement that further solidifies his standing as a versatile talent, University of Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan was named as one of the 53 players on the Paul Hornung Award Pre-Season Watch List this Thursday.
Jordan, hailing from Long Island, New York, led the Cardinals in rushing during the last season with a total of 815 yards and four touchdowns. He appeared in 13 games and recorded four 100-yard rushing games, three of them in consecutive matches closing the season. Notably, he registered a season high of 145 yards in a match against Kentucky and rushed for 105 yards in a victorious game against North Carolina State. After rushing for 115 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns in a win over Cincinnati, Jordan was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Fenway Bowl.
In addition to his prowess as a running back, Jordan also excels as a kick returner, with two touchdown returns in the last two seasons. His record includes a 98-yard return in the last season and a stellar 100-yard return in a bowl game against Air Force in 2021.
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 14th season, is presented annually by the Louisville Sports Commission in memory of the late football legend and Louisville native, Paul Hornung. The award honors the most versatile player in major college football. The winner, alongside his family, will be celebrated at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in Louisville, Kentucky, in March 2024.
The pre-season watch list includes players from 53 different schools who, combined, accounted for over 56,000 total yards and more than 1,700 points last season. The majority of players, 47 in total, play offensive skill positions and all but one are return specialists. Six players are defensive backs and return specialists.
By conference, the ACC leads the nominations with nine players, followed by the Big 12 with eight, the Pac 12 with seven, and the Big 10 and CUSA with six each. The SEC and Mountain West have five players each, the AAC has four, the MAC three and the Sun Belt two. Independent schools Notre Dame and UConn each have a player on the list.
The Paul Hornung Award boasts an impressive legacy, with seven winners having been first-round NFL draft picks, including the likes of Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian McCaffrey, and DeVonta Smith. The award’s 13th recipient in 2022 was Jack Colletto from Oregon State, who made the successful transition from part-time starting quarterback to a utility player playing nine different positions depending on the Beavers’ weekly game plan.
Paul Hornung, the award’s namesake, was renowned for his versatility, playing every position in the offensive backfield, as well as defensive safety, punting, placekicking, and kickoff returning during his career with the Irish in the 1950s. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1956 and was the first player selected in the NFL draft. He later became a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The 2023 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts, using a mix of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations, and expectations for the 2023 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances meet the Award’s criteria throughout the regular season.
