Ohio State Football opponent Week 2: Golden Hurricane WR/Return Specialist Keylon Stokes Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Keylon Stokes in action (courtesy Tulsa Athletics)

TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa receiver/return specialist Keylon Stokes was named to the 2021 Paul Hornung Award Watch List. The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football.
 
Stokes, from Manvel, Texas, enters his final season ranked third on the school’s career all-purpose yardage chart with 3,956 yards. In 42 career games, Stokes has caught 155 passes for 2,402 yards, has 60 kickoff returns for 1,244 yards, 211 rushing yards and 99 punt return yards.
 
In last year’s shortened nine-game season, Stokes compiled a team-high 799 all-purpose yards, including 644 receiving, 65 on the ground and totaled 90 returns yards. His 64 yards receiving and three TDs in 2020 came on 46 receptions. A year earlier, Stokes had a team-leading 1,040 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 62 receptions for a 16.9 average per catch. He again led the Hurricane in all-purpose yardage with 1,503 yards and a 125.2-yard average per game.
 
Stokes has led the Golden Hurricane in each of the last three seasons for receiving yards.
 
The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, 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.

COURTESY TULSA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS