Photo by USA TODAY Sports
NC State Football
Samuels Named To Hornung Watch List
Senior all-purpose back Jaylen Samuels added to his ever-growing list of preseason honors today, as the Louisville Sports Commission named him to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse. The Hornung Award is presented annually to the most versatile player in college football.
Samuels has also been named a preseason All-American by Athlon and to the watch list for the Maxwell Award.
“Not only is Jaylen a player who can fill many roles, but he excels as a runner, a receiver, a blocker and even had success thrown the ball,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “He is the definition of an all-purpose player.”
The offensive MVP of the 2016 Independence Bowl, Samuels ranks sixth in school history with 31 career touchdowns. The prolific scorer has tallied 15 receiving TDs (t-6th) and 16 rushing scores (t-13th). A first-team All-ACC tight end in 2015, he has led the team in receptions each of the past two years and even threw a touchdown pass last season.
Samuels has caught a pass in 28 straight games, the fifth-longest streak in school history, while also averaging 6.7 yards per rush for his career. That would be the school record if he had enough rushing attempts to qualify.
A College and Pro Hall of Famer, Paul Hornung is considered by many to be the most versatile player in the history of college football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Notre Dame after playing every position in the backfield and also punted, kicked returned kicks and played defensive back. He was a member of four NFL championship teams for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring three seasons.
Samuels has also been named a preseason All-American by Athlon and to the watch list for the Maxwell Award.
“Not only is Jaylen a player who can fill many roles, but he excels as a runner, a receiver, a blocker and even had success thrown the ball,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “He is the definition of an all-purpose player.”
The offensive MVP of the 2016 Independence Bowl, Samuels ranks sixth in school history with 31 career touchdowns. The prolific scorer has tallied 15 receiving TDs (t-6th) and 16 rushing scores (t-13th). A first-team All-ACC tight end in 2015, he has led the team in receptions each of the past two years and even threw a touchdown pass last season.
Samuels has caught a pass in 28 straight games, the fifth-longest streak in school history, while also averaging 6.7 yards per rush for his career. That would be the school record if he had enough rushing attempts to qualify.
A College and Pro Hall of Famer, Paul Hornung is considered by many to be the most versatile player in the history of college football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Notre Dame after playing every position in the backfield and also punted, kicked returned kicks and played defensive back. He was a member of four NFL championship teams for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring three seasons.
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