Your early-week inundation with watch lists continues with the Paul Hornung Award.
A year ago, UCLA linebacker-turned-running-back Myles Jack was a finalist for the award, which is given to who the Louisville Sports Commission views as the most versatile athlete in college football. Jack was beaten out by LSU receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Here is the Pac-12 representation:
WR Nelson Agholor, USC
WR Victor Bolden, Oregon State
RB D.J. Foster, Arizona State
LB Myles Jack, UCLA
WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford
RB Khalfani Muhammad, California
LB Shaq Thompson, Washington
As a returning finalist, it'd be easy to call Jack a favorite to win the award, but it remains to be seen if circumstances will allow him to be a serious contender. In a perfect world at UCLA, the Bruins wouldn't need him to carry the ball like they did late last season. And if Jack not being a factor for this award is the by-product of that, count on absolutely no one caring.
Thompson might end up being the player to watch here considering he could be to Washington this fall what Jack was for the Bruins a year ago.
With its seven players on the list, the Pac-12 ranked behind the Big Ten and ACC (both had 10) for third among conferences. It was followed by the Big 12 (5), SEC (4), Mountain West (3), AAC (3), Conference USA (2), Sun Belt (2) and MAC (1).
Stanford's Owen Marecic, who played fullback and linebacker, won the inaugural award in 2010.
The complete list of 47 players can be viewed here.
