LOUISVILLE, Ky. — BYU return specialist and wide receiver Parker Kingston was today named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List for the 2025 football season.
Established in 2010 by the Louisville Sports Commission, the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is awarded annually to the most versatile player in college football at the FBS level. A total of 46 players, representing nine FBS conferences and 46 different schools, were selected to the 2025 preseason watch list.
Kingston, a 5-11, 185-pound junior from Layton, Utah, is a repeat selection for the prestigious Paul Hornung Award Watch List, having also made the list in 2024. Earlier this summer, Kingston was named a preseason All-American as a punt returner by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
During his sophomore campaign in 2024, Kingston returned 16 punts for 236 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 196 yards on 13 catches with one touchdown and also threw for another score on a trick play. Kingston is just the third player in Big 12 history to have multiple career games with a passing and receiving touchdown. He was also named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week following a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in BYU's 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State last year.
Following the 2024 season, Kingston was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team as a punt returner, having returned four punts for 105 yards against Colorado, including a 64-yard touchdown that gave BYU a 17-0 lead.
Throughout the 2025 regular season, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances meet the Award’s criteria. Players named to the preseason watch list and the Weekly Honor Roll are eligible to win the Paul Hornung Award at the conclusion of the season.
The Hornung Award is named in memory of the late football legend and Louisville, Kentucky, native Paul Hornung and was created to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed. The winner of the 2026 Award will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in Louisville in March 2026.
A native of Louisville, Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy at 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. While in the NFL, Hornung was a multi-threat offensive back and prolific kicker. He was a member of four NFL championship teams as an all-pro halfback for the Green Bay Packers.