As we have turned past the midway point of the regular season, it becomes high-speed-award-list season. Many of the post-season awards start to get to their semifinalist list or shorten their pre-season watch lists. This week we also get three ACC players on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.
The Louisville Sports Commission, which also gives out the award at the end of the season, honors players every week during the season based on on-field performance. This week’s honor roll:
Breshard Smith
The SMU running back and return specialist scored twice in the Mustangs’ 28-27 overtime win at Duke. Smith carried the ball 26 times for 117 yards, and the two touchdowns. Three of his carries helped sustain scoring drives for SMU. He also caught three passes for 22 yards and he had one kickoff return.
Demond Claiborne
The Wake Forest running back accounted for 204 all-purpose yards in the Demon Deacons’ 27-24 win at Stanford. The junior had 23 carries for 123 yards. He also caught three passes for 62 yards. Claiborne had a kickoff return for 19 yards, giving him the all-purpose yard total. The greater depth of Claiborne’s performance is that he missed significant chunks of playing time. He left the game in the first half after getting hit in the lower back with a helmet. He returned only to leave again in the second half with an injured shoulder. This is Claiborne’s second time on the honor roll list this season.
Isaac Brown
The Louisville running back and return specialist scored twice in the Cardinals’ 31-27 come-from-behind win at Boston College. He carried the ball 18 times for 85 yards, including two touchdowns, (four yards and 18 yards). He also had three pass catches for 17 yards and had three kickoff returns for 57 yards. This is Brown’s second time on the award’s honor list this season.
The Rest of the Honor Roll
Colorado defensive back/receiver Travis Hunter
Ohio receiver/return specialist Coleman Owen
James Madison running back/return specialist George Pettaway
The national selection committee for the honor roll and the award at the season’s end comprises 18 college football reporters and former NFL players.
