USF Athletics

Johnson Named to Hornung Award Watch List

July 17, 2017

TAMPA, JULY 17, 2017 – Senior running back D'Ernest Johnson (Immokalee) was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List Monday, bringing USF's total of Bulls on national award watch lists to eight represented on nine awards lists.
 
Johnson, who was a second team all-conference selection as a returner last year and is expected to be the Bulls' featured back in 2017, was also named to the watch list for the Hornung Award, which honors college football's most versatile player, last year. The National College Football Awards will continue announcements of preseason candidates for national recognition in college football next week.
 
USF is now represented on nine national award watch lists by eight players: senior quarterback Quinton Flowers (Maxwell), senior punter Jonathan Hernandez (Ray Guy), senior running back D'Ernest Johson (Hornung), senior cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Bednarik, Nagurski & Thorpe), senior center Cameron Ruff (Rimington), senior linebacker Auggie Sanchez (Nagurski), senior defensive lineman Deadrin Senat (Nagurski & Outland) and sophomore tight end Mitchell Wilcox (Mackey).
 
Johnson, who owns the USF game record for all-purpose yards with 281 vs. Cincinnati in 2015, scored 14 touchdowns last season and brings 1,000 career rushing yards into his senior campaign. A prolific pass catcher, he also owns the USF career receiving yards record for a running back with 756 and is nearing the career record for receptions with 62.  He ranked eighth in the FBS with a punt return average of 11.8 yards in 2016 and scored at least one TD in 10 games. Johnson rushed for a career high of 543 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns and ranked fourth on the team with 1,280 all-purpose yards in 2016. He posted his first career 100-yard rushing game with 107 yards against Navy and set a career high with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown at Syracuse.
 
ABOUT THE AWARD
The mission of the Paul Hornung Award is to recognize and reward versatile, high-level performers in major college football. The Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). 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. 
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, will return in 2017.

Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.