University of Missouri senior TB/KR/PR Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas) has been named one of five finalists for the fifth annual Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, as announced today by the Louisville Sports Commission.  The award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football, as chosen by a 16-member selection committee.

Murphy has shown that he’s one of the most dynamic scoring threats in all of college football, as he’s the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to score a touchdown this season in the four all-purpose categories.  He’s got two kickoff return scores, one punt return score and one score each rushing and receiving.  Murphy is one of only four FBS players to have a score this season via kickoff and punt return.

The NCAA’s active career leader in all-purpose yardage (4,577 entering Saturday’s game at Tennessee), Murphy holds Mizzou career records for most combined kick return touchdowns, kickoff return touchdowns, punt return touchdowns and punt return yardage.  He is averaging 13.0 yards per punt return in 2014 (ranking him 11th in the NCAA currently), 32.9 yards per kickoff return (which would rank him 3rd nationally, but he doesn’t have quite enough attempts to qualify for the standings), while he’s got 607 yards rushing and 143 yards receiving.

The senior has already earned his undergraduate degree from MU’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism program.

The Hornung Award winner will be announced in December, with the recipient being honored on January 27, 2015 at the annual Paul Hornung award banquet in downtown Louisville.  Created in 2010, the Hornung Award is designed to honor the most versatile player in college football, while preserving the legacy of one of Kentucky’s best-known and accomplished athletes in Paul Hornung – the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner and later NFL MVP for the Green Bay Packers.

The 16-member selection committee will vote for the winner, but fans also will comprise the 17th vote in a fan vote which opened today by visiting www.paulhornungaward.com.

— MU Sports Information —