Temple University Athletics
Kirkwood Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
7.17.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA -- The Louisville Sports Commission today named _ multi-talented college football players to the 2017 Watch List for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse. Temple's redshirt senior wide receiver Keith Kirkwood is among those selected.
Kirkwood, a 6-3, 218-pound target, enters the 2017 campaign with 46 career receptions for 717 yards and five touchdowns. Following a transfer from Hawaii in 2014, the Neptune, N.J., native has played 23 games for the Owls over the 2014-16 seasons. He emerged as a go-to receiver for quarterback Phillip Walker a year ago and caught a touchdown pass with one second remaining in a 26-25 victory at UCF. This spring, he impressed new head coach Geoff Collins enough to earn a prestigious single-digit jersey (#5) given to Temple's toughest players. He also showed skills on the other side of the ball, notching a sack as a defensive end in Temple's spring game.
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Players on this year's Watch List accounted for 10,724 rushing yards, 16,853 receiving yards, 13,548 kickoff return yards, 4,092 punt return yards, and 394 total tackles in 2016. Reminiscent of Hornung during his playing days, members of the Watch List demonstrated a knack for scoring numerous ways. Last season the Watch List players combined for 291 total touchdowns in six different ways - passing, rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return, and interception.
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"We have a terrific Watch List again this year," said Paul Hornung, namesake of the Award, who legendary Coach Vince Lombardi called "the most versatile man ever to play the game." "I love the fact that we recognize players who have the skill and the right mind set to play anyplace on the field to help their team win games."
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The 2017 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2016 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2017 season. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2017 regular season based on performance.
Kirkwood is the fourth Temple Owl to land on a preseason watch list. Earlier this summer, senior safety Sean Chandler (Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Lott IMPACT Award), sophomore kicker Aaron Boumerhi (Lou Groza Award), and redshirt freshman center Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award) were similarly recognized.
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Kirkwood, a 6-3, 218-pound target, enters the 2017 campaign with 46 career receptions for 717 yards and five touchdowns. Following a transfer from Hawaii in 2014, the Neptune, N.J., native has played 23 games for the Owls over the 2014-16 seasons. He emerged as a go-to receiver for quarterback Phillip Walker a year ago and caught a touchdown pass with one second remaining in a 26-25 victory at UCF. This spring, he impressed new head coach Geoff Collins enough to earn a prestigious single-digit jersey (#5) given to Temple's toughest players. He also showed skills on the other side of the ball, notching a sack as a defensive end in Temple's spring game.
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its eighth season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission, and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award Banquet presented by KentuckyOne Health, to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on March 8, 2018. This will be The Paul Hornung Award's second year as an associate member of the prestigious National College Football Awards Association.
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The 2017 Watch List is comprised of one graduate student, 23 seniors, 19 juniors, and three sophomores who play a total of nine different positions. They represent 45 universities in 28 states coast-to-coast across the 10 conferences that are part of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Kirkwood is one of four players from the American Athletic Conference - D'Ernest Johnson (USF), Tony Pollard (Memphis), and Braeden West (SMU).Â
Players on this year's Watch List accounted for 10,724 rushing yards, 16,853 receiving yards, 13,548 kickoff return yards, 4,092 punt return yards, and 394 total tackles in 2016. Reminiscent of Hornung during his playing days, members of the Watch List demonstrated a knack for scoring numerous ways. Last season the Watch List players combined for 291 total touchdowns in six different ways - passing, rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return, and interception.
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"We have a terrific Watch List again this year," said Paul Hornung, namesake of the Award, who legendary Coach Vince Lombardi called "the most versatile man ever to play the game." "I love the fact that we recognize players who have the skill and the right mind set to play anyplace on the field to help their team win games."
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The 2017 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2016 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2017 season. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2017 regular season based on performance.
Kirkwood is the fourth Temple Owl to land on a preseason watch list. Earlier this summer, senior safety Sean Chandler (Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Lott IMPACT Award), sophomore kicker Aaron Boumerhi (Lou Groza Award), and redshirt freshman center Matt Hennessy (Rimington Award) were similarly recognized.
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