LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — BYU receiver and kickoff returner Parker Kingston was named Tuesday as one of five recipients of the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for week three of the 2023 college football season.
In addition to being named to the Honor Roll, Kingston was also added to the Paul Hornung Award Candidates list for the 2023 season. The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is awarded annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in college football.
Kingston became just the ninth player in BYU history to throw a touchdown pass and catch a touchdown pass in the same game, helping the Cougars defeat Arkansas, 38-31, in Fayetteville on Saturday.
With BYU trailing 14-0 early in the first quarter, the 5-11, 180-pound, freshman took a backward pass from quarterback Kedon Slovis and connected on 37-yard touchdown pass down the opposite sideline to running back Deion Smith for the Cougars’ first score of the game.
Kingston also had three receptions for 46 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass from Slovis to tie the game at 31-31 with 1:52 seconds remaining in third quarter. To showcase his versatility, Kingston also had one rush for three yards and returned two kickoffs for 56 yards to lead BYU in all-purpose yards with 105.
The Paul Hornung Award was created in 2010 and named after Hornung, a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, who is widely considered one of the most versatile players in the history of college and pro football.
Voting for the 2023 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is now open. A national selection committee comprised of 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars will vote on the Hornung Award winner, with a fan vote comprising the 18th vote. College football fans can vote once every 24 hours until Nov. 12 at midnight when the fan voting closes.
Several BYU players have been named to the Paul Hornung Award Candidate list in the past, including Tyler Allgeier (2021), Lopini Katoa (2020), Austin Kafentzis (2018) and JD Falslev (2013).
BYU (3-0) will take on Kansas (3-0) in its inaugural Big 12 match up on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 2:30 p.m. CT from David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.
Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll — Week Three
- Parker Kingston, BYU, freshman, WR/return specialist
- Jacob De Jesus, UNLV, senior, WR/return specialist
- DJ Lundy, Florida State, LB/FB
- Michael Wiley, Arizona, senior, WR/return specialist
- Tory Horton, Colorado State, WR/return specialist