Temple University Athletics
DB/KOR James Nixon
James Nixon Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
8.17.10 | Football
Owls Add to School Record for Preseason Recognition
PHILADELPHIA – Temple junior James Nixon (New Haven, Conn.) is one of 48 players named to the Watch List for the inaugural Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player in college football, the Louisville Sports Commission and Paul Hornung announced on Tuesday.
“Paul Hornung was a playmaker and the spirit of the Paul Hornung Award is to recognize versatile, high-level performers who make an impact on the game,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “The Watch List is a work in progress, and we are particularly pleased from the outset to draw attention to almost two dozen individuals that have not received recognition with other awards.”
Players from all FBS teams are eligible. The selection committee will narrow the field to approximately 10-15 finalists at the end of the regular season in early December then will select the winner at the end of the bowl season in early January.
The Paul Hornung Award Banquet will be held in late January at the Galt House in downtown Louisville.
A 2010 preseason All-Mid-American Conference honoree, Nixon earned second-team All-MAC honors at kickoff returner and was named the team's Special Teams MVP in 2009. He saw action in all 13 games with nine starts. Nixon finished the season as the team's kickoff return leader with 17 returns for 497 yards (29.2 average) and a school record two touchdowns. After playing wide receiver for two seasons, Nixon will suit up at defensive back for the Owls this fall.
Nixon is the fifth Owl to earn a spot on a preseason watch list. To date, a school record five Owls appear on seven watch lists in the preseason. Sophomore Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) is a candidate for the Walter Camp Player of the Year as well as the Maxwell Award. Junior Adrian Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa.) has two citations-- the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Senior Jaiquawn Jarrett (Queens, N.Y.) was named to the 2010 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, while junior Muhammad Wilkerson (Linden, N.J.) was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova at 5 p.m. in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
Paul Hornung Award
Created by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award is designed to recognize versatile, high-level performers in major college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best known athletes.
A panel of experts will select the inaugural winner in early January 2011. The votes will be tabulated by a full service accounting firm. Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 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 and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points and was named League MVP following the 1961 season.
Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and resides in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
More information go to www.paulhornungaward.com.
“Paul Hornung was a playmaker and the spirit of the Paul Hornung Award is to recognize versatile, high-level performers who make an impact on the game,” said Karl Schmitt, executive director of the Louisville Sports Commission. “The Watch List is a work in progress, and we are particularly pleased from the outset to draw attention to almost two dozen individuals that have not received recognition with other awards.”
Players from all FBS teams are eligible. The selection committee will narrow the field to approximately 10-15 finalists at the end of the regular season in early December then will select the winner at the end of the bowl season in early January.
The Paul Hornung Award Banquet will be held in late January at the Galt House in downtown Louisville.
A 2010 preseason All-Mid-American Conference honoree, Nixon earned second-team All-MAC honors at kickoff returner and was named the team's Special Teams MVP in 2009. He saw action in all 13 games with nine starts. Nixon finished the season as the team's kickoff return leader with 17 returns for 497 yards (29.2 average) and a school record two touchdowns. After playing wide receiver for two seasons, Nixon will suit up at defensive back for the Owls this fall.
Nixon is the fifth Owl to earn a spot on a preseason watch list. To date, a school record five Owls appear on seven watch lists in the preseason. Sophomore Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) is a candidate for the Walter Camp Player of the Year as well as the Maxwell Award. Junior Adrian Robinson (Harrisburg, Pa.) has two citations-- the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award Watch Lists. Senior Jaiquawn Jarrett (Queens, N.Y.) was named to the 2010 Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, while junior Muhammad Wilkerson (Linden, N.J.) was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List.
Temple opens the 2010 season on Friday, Sept. 3 with Villanova at 5 p.m. in the second annual Mayor's Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
Paul Hornung Award
Created by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award is designed to recognize versatile, high-level performers in major college football and help preserve the legacy of one of Kentucky's best known athletes.
A panel of experts will select the inaugural winner in early January 2011. The votes will be tabulated by a full service accounting firm. Hornung is considered by many the best all-around player in the history of college and pro football. He won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at quarterback for Notre Dame and was the No. 1 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 and was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker in the pros. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers and led the NFL in scoring 1959-60-61, set the single season scoring record in 1960 with 176 points and was named League MVP following the 1961 season.
Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Hornung, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." Paul is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and resides in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
More information go to www.paulhornungaward.com.
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