LOUISVILLE, Ky. – South Alabama wide receiver Caullin Lacy has been named to the 2023 Paul Hornung Award Watch List presented by Texas Roadhouse as announced by the Louisville Sports Commission on Thursday.

Lacy is the first Jaguar to make the preseason list since Tra Minter did so prior to the start of the 2019 season.

The award, which began during the 2010 season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. Hornung is considered by many the most versatile player in the history of college and pro football, winning the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame before becoming the number one 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.
 
After Week 11 of the regular season, the 17-member Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee votes for their top three choices for finalists, and in early December following conference championship weekend the Selection Committee members choose their top three players from the finalist pool to determine the winner.  Fan voting — which accounts for the 18th vote for both finalists and the winner — will take place online at www.votepaulhornung.com.

Finalists will be announced on November 15, 2023 with the winner scheduled to be announced on December 6, 2023. The Louisville Sports Commission will then host the winner at its annual banquet in Louisville, Ky., in March 2024.

Lacy, a highly versatile player for the Jags as he was used as a receiver and primary punt returner, recorded 21 returns for 189 yards, averaging 9.00 yards per return and scored a touchdown. As a receiver, he finished with a team-high 65 receptions for 816 yards, with six touchdowns. His 1,134 all-purpose yards a year ago rank as seventh-most in a season in program history.

The Mobile, Ala., native recorded a career-high and school record 12 receptions for 133 yards against ULM, and also finished with 236 all-purpose yards in the contest, which ranks as ninth-most in a game in program history.

Lacy was named preseason all-SBC at a pair of positions by both Athlon Sports and PFF, along with a first-team nod by Phil Steele and a second-team all-league honor by the coaches last week.

ABOUT THE PAUL HORNUNG AWARD 
The mission of the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is to recognize and reward versatile, high-level performers in major college football (Football Bowl Subdivision team member); to help preserve the legacy of one of Louisville's native sons and sports icons; and to promote Louisville as a great sports town.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The Award was created by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of the Golden Boy himself, Paul Hornung, a native and lifelong resident of Louisville and member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Hornung is considered by many the most versatile player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the number one 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. While in the NFL, Hornung was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points, and was named League MVP following the 1961 season.

In the spirit of partnership with Paul Hornung, the LSC oversees and administers all aspects of the Award including budget, selection process, marketing and PR, banquet, trophy, sponsorships, and hospitality. An Advisory Committee comprised of the LSC President and CEO, board leadership, and local business leaders provides guidance to insure the integrity of the Award.

ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION
Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) staff and a panel of college football experts create a pre-season Watch List of approximately 50 players. During the season, LSC staff and the experts select and recognize outstanding performers for the weekly Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll. Names are added to the Honor Roll as the season progresses based on performance. LSC staff creates and distributes press releases to sports journalists throughout the nation and to sports information directors at all FBS schools. The releases are posted on www.paulhornungaward.com.

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