Walton Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Jaylen Walton is up for the Paul Hornung Award. Photo by Callie Daniels Bryant

Ole Miss senior running back Jaylen Walton has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2015 Paul Hornung Award, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Monday.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the LSC to the most versatile player in major college football. Walton’s versatility earned him a spot on the watch list along with 43 others across the nation.

Walton enters his final year as a Rebel with 3,354 all-purpose yards, which ranks sixth in program history. The Memphis, Tennessee native already holds the school record in career kick return yards, compiling 1,542 over the past three years. He also has 1,227 career rushing yards to go along with 585 receiving yards. In three seasons, Walton has scored 18 touchdowns, including seven during the 2014 campaign.

Last season, Walton led Ole Miss in rushing with 586 yards on 106 carries. He started every game in the backfield and also returned kicks, racking up 1,176 all-purpose yards; his 90.5 all-purpose yards per game ranked 14th in the SEC. Along with averaging 21.3 yards per return, the shifty back also caught 19 passes for 206 yards. In the 2014 Egg Bowl, Walton put together a career day with 203 all-purpose yards, including a career-high 148 on the ground. He provided a highlight run by scampering 91 yards down the sideline, the third-longest play from scrimmage in school history, to help Ole Miss take down rival Mississippi State.

Walton’s long run was not the only big play Ole Miss fans remember him making last season. He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Bo Wallace with 2:54 remaining in the Rebels’ memorable win over top-ranked Alabama at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Walton and the Rebels will kick off the 2015 season Sept. 5 versus UT Martin. Game time is set for 11 a.m. from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

About the Paul Hornung Award

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.

2015 Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics