Aug. 2, 2012

Louisville, KY - University of Tulsa tailback/kick returner Trey Watts was named to the 2012 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, it was announced today by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Watts is one of 49 multi-talented players named to the preseason watch list. The Paul Hornung Award, now in its third season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung.

The 5'11" junior led the Golden Hurricane in all-purpose yardage last year with 1,629 yards for a 125.3 average per game. Watts rushed for 881 yards, a 5.6 average and three touchdowns, while catching 31 passes for 242 yards and three TDs. In his first season returning kickoffs for the Hurricane, Watts gained 482 yards for a 24.1 average per return and one touchdown.

Watts was an honorable mention all-Conference USA selection as a sophomore. He had two 100-yard rushing games with 159 yards against #7-ranked Oklahoma State and 144 yards vs. Marshall. Watts gained 254 all-purpose yards against UTEP with 69 yards coming on the ground, 72 receiving yards and 113 yards on kick returns, including a career-long 94-yard return for a touchdown.

Watts is one of only three players from Conference USA schools to be selected to the watch list. The other two are UCF's Quincy McDuffe and Tracy Lampley of Southern Miss.

The 2012 Paul Hornung Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2011 statistics, career performances and expectations heading into the 2012 season.

2012 Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
Keenan Allen, California
Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Kenjon Barner , Oregon
Jonathan Banks, Mississippi State
D.J. Beshears, Kansas
Matt Brown, Temple
Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State
Trey Burton, Florida
Adrian Bushell, Louisville
Jesse Callier, Washington
Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest
Brandon Carter, TCU
Tommy Davis, Illinois
Quandre Diggs, Texas
Jerry "BooBoo" Gates, Bowling Green
Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
Jordan Hall, Ohio State
Dustin Harris, Texas A&M
Terry Hawthorne, Illinois
Dennis Johnson, Arkansas
Chandler Jones, San Jose State
Perry Jones, Virginia
Tracy Lampley, Southern Miss
Marqise Lee, Southern California
Josh Lenz, Iowa
Venric Marks, Northwestern
Onterio McCaleb, Auburn
Qunicy McDuffe, UCF
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Jamal Miles, Arizona State
T.J. Moe, Missouri
Ty Montgomery, Stanford
Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Theo Riddick, Notre Dame
Nickell Robey, Southern California
Ace Sanders, South Carolina
Jeff Scott, Mississippi
Branden Smith, Georgia
Orwin Smith, Georgia Tech
Darryl Surgent, Louisiana-Lafayette
De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon
Justin Veltung, Idaho
Sammy Watkins, Clemson
Trey Watts, Tulsa
Kerwynn Williams, Utah State
Robert Woods, Southern California