Texas RB Jaydon Blue named to Paul Hornung Award watch list
Texas running back and return specialist Jaydon Blue was selected to the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday. The award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football.
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A junior tailback from Spring (Texas) Klein Cain has played in 23 games throughout his Longhorn career. In addition to receiving preseason praise from the Paul Hornung Award, Blue garnered preseason third-team All-SEC accolades in July.
As a sophomore, Blue saw time in all 14 games and rushed 65 times for 398 yards and three touchdowns while hauling in 14 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in the 2023 season. In UT’s 57-7 win at home over Texas Tech on Nov. 24, 2023, Blue had a career-best performance with 10 carries for 121 yards and one touchdown while also bursting for a career-long 69-yard run. His performance against the Red Raiders also marked his first career 100-yard game.
He also toted the rock 10 times for 33 yards and recorded three receptions for a then-career-high 38 receiving yards to go along with his first career receiving touchdown in the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma State. In the College Football Playoff semifinal versus No. 2 Washington, Blue carried the ball nine times for 59 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and one rushing score. He also caught four passes for 45 yards and returned three kickoffs for 80 yards, including a career-long 31-yard return, in the Sugar Bowl against the Huskies.
After the completion of week 11 in the regular season, LSC staff creates and distributes an informational packet on players who made the Honor Roll to the 18-member Paul Hornung Award Selection Committee. The selection members vote for their top three choices for PHA Finalists using this list and any other FBS players that meet the PHA criteria. Results are based on a 5-3-1-point system (first place – 5 points; second place – 3 points; third place – 1 point). A designated number of players with the most points comprises the Finalist List.
In early December following conference championship weekend, selection committee members choose their top three players from the finalist pool, ranked in order from first, second and third place. The 5-3-1-point system will be used to determine the winner. Fan voting accounts for the 18th vote (approximately 6 percent of the overall votes) for both finalists and the winner using the 5-3-1-point system.
Blue and the Texas Longhorns kickoff the season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 31, at home against Colorado State. The game will air on ESPN from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Via UT press release
