Fan voting to select the finalists for the 2011 Paul Hornung Award is now open on Facebook and being powered by Texas Roadhouse and the Louisville Sports Commission. Fans can vote as often as once a day by going to www.votepaulhornung.com.
The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is awarded annually to the most versatile player in major college football and Kansas juniors WR/KR D.J. Beshears and S Bradley McDougald are both on the ballot.
Beshears currently leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth in the NCAA in all-purpose yardage. The Denton, Texas, native has three rushes for 29 yards, 12 receptions for 135 yards and 18 kickoff returns for 387 yards. Beshears is averaging 183.7 all-purpose yards per game and has recorded two TDs, both on receptions.
Beshears was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week and to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 12 following his standout performance in leading KU to a 45-42 win over Northern Illinois. Beshears recorded 285 all-purpose yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds as Kansas outlasted the Huskies. He set career highs in kick return yardage (197), receptions (seven), receiving yards (70) and touchdown receptions (two). His 51-yard kickoff return set up KU’s final scoring drive.
McDougald, who was named to the 2011 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award, ranks fifth on the team with 15 tackles from his safety position. McDougald recorded his first career sack in KU’s last game at Georgia Tech and has two passes defensed on the season.
College football fans nationwide will have the opportunity to vote for players on the 2011 Watch List and any player that has been named to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll. Results of the fans’ selection on Facebook will count for one vote, adding to the votes cast by the 16-member Selection Committee. http://www.paulhornungaward.com/selection-process.
Fans will also have the chance to vote for the winner from among the finalists in a second round of voting starting December 9.
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son and to promote outstanding performances by multi-talented college football players that often go unnoticed.
Owen Marecic of Stanford, a two-way starter and All Pac-10 performer at fullback and linebacker, won the inaugural Paul Hornung Award in 2010.
Beshears, McDougald and their Kansas teammates will host Texas Tech in their Big 12 Conference opener Saturday, Oct. 1. Game time is slated for 11 a.m., with a live broadcast on Fox Sports Net.
— KU Sports Information —