Junior running back Jeff Demps (Winter Garden, Fla.) was added to the 2010 Hornung Award Watch List, as announced by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung on Wednesday. The award, making its debut this year, will be given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. Demps is one of 51 players nationally to appear on the list.
Demps has appeared in three games this season, including two starts. Demps recently carried the ball a career-high 26 times for a team-high 73 yards in the rivalry victory on the road at Tennessee, the most by a Gator running back since Ciatrick Fason vs. Kentucky in 2004. He leads the Gator rushing attack with 310 yards rushing on 45 carries for a 6.9 average, while ranking third in the country and first in the Southeastern Conference with 196.7 all-purpose yards per game. Demps has also caught eight passes for 59 yards and returned six kickoffs for 221 yards. His 37.8 yards per kickoff return average ranks sixth nationally and is first in the SEC. Following his performance against South Florida, the junior was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Paul Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 pick in the 1957 NFL draft. He played every position in the backfield during his career with the Irish, where he also punted, kicked, returned kicks and played defensive back and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros.
The Selection Committee will narrow the field to approximately 10-15 finalists at the end of the regular season in early December then will select the winner at or near the end of the bowl season in early January. A banquet will be held to honor the winner in late January at the Galt House in downtown Louisville.
