PFF: Derek Stingley candidate for most versatile player award

Third-year LSU cornerback Derek Stingley was named to PFF’s preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the most versatile player in college football. PFF’s Anthony Treash highlighted why Stingley is on the list.

In 2019, Stingley had the most valuable true freshman season by a non-quarterback in the PFF College era, dating back to 2014, leading all FBS cornerbacks in coverage grade for the year. He finished his freshman year with 38 tackles, six interceptions and 15 passes deflected.

2020 wasn’t nearly as noteworthy, but it was mainly because quarterbacks rarely looked his way. He saw just 30 targets over seven games, allowing just seven first downs while forcing five incompletions.

“Even if he only plays cornerback, Stingley is the clear favorite to be the No. 1 defensive player in college football this season,” Treash wrote. “If he plays both sides of the ball, he’s going to make the Heisman race that more intriguing.”

With the 2021 season expected to be Derek Stingley’s last before declaring for the NFL, much has been made about the third-year cornerback potentially playing both sides of the ball in his final year at LSU.

“I think we’re gonna give him [Stingley] a couple of snaps [at wide receiver] in fall camp,” LSU head coach Ed Orgeron to Off The Bench in June. “Let him see what he can do and see if we can manage it.”

Stingley himself offered an update at SEC Media Day in July.

“That just depends on what Coach O wants, and if he needs someone to do that, then we’ll talk about it,” said Stingley.

Derek Stingley has also returned punts for the Tigers the last two season, averaging 10.2 yards per return with 26 returns to his name so far.

As Treash wrote, regardless of if he plays both ways, Stingley is the clear favorite to be the top defensive player in college football. He also projects to be a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If he does make contributions on the offensive side of the ball, and has any type of impact in the return game, he could win not only the Paul Hornung Award, but potentially, the Heisman Trophy. If Stingley was to win the Heisman in 2021, he would be just the second primarily defensive player to win the award after Charles Woodson won it in 1997.

To compare, Woodson had 246 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage, 33 punt returns for 283 yards and one touchdown as well as seven interceptions, to win the award.