LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — BYU receiver/punt returner Parker Kingston was today named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for a second consecutive week, this time for helping lead No. 18 ranked BYU to a 33-27 double-overtime win at Arizona on Saturday.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is awarded annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in college football.
Against Arizona on Saturday, Kingston had five receptions for 117 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter that gave BYU an early 14-0 lead. The 75-yard strike from quarterback Bear Bachmeier was the longest reception of Kingston’s career and the first 70-plus-yard touchdown reception for the Cougars since 2020.
With BYU trailing 24-14 late in the fourth quarter, the 5-11, 185-pound junior from Layton, Utah, came up big once again. On fourth-and-seven with just over seven minutes to play, Kingston hauled in a 12-yard reception to the Arizona 33-yard line to extend a drive that later resulted in a field goal, bringing BYU to within a touchdown.
After a Wildcat three-and-out on the next possession, Kingston returned the ensuing punt 26 yards to the Arizona 47-yard line to set up the game-tying touchdown drive, the score coming with just 19-seconds to play.
Through six games, Kingston leads BYU with 23 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The Cougar Swiss Army knife also has 10 rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown to go along with nine punt returns for 118 yards, an average of 13.1 yards per return.
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.
Fan voting to help determine the finalists of the 2025 Paul Hornung Award is currently open. Cougar fans can vote for Kingston now through Nov. 16. A national selection committee comprised of 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award winner, with the fan vote comprising the 19th vote.
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.
Several BYU players have been named to the Paul Hornung Award candidate list in the past, including Kingston (2024), Tyler Allgeier (2021), Lopini Katoa (2020), Austin Kafentzis (2018) and JD Falslev (2013).
No. 14/15 ranked BYU will host No. 22/23 ranked Utah in the Cougars’ annual homecoming game slated for Saturday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. MDT on FOX. The game features the first ranked meeting between the two teams since 2009. FOX Sports' popular national pregame television show Big Noon Kickoff will be broadcast live from BYU on Saturday at 8 a.m. MDT.