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Heading into the 2018 college football season, WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises, and the next fall’s stars could be the headline players next April for the 2019 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.
The Paul Hornung Award is given to the most versatile player in college football. Last year’s winner was Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, who we predicted would win the award in August of 2016. The previous year we were correct in our prediction of Jabrill Peppers winning the Hornung Awward.
Paul Hornung Award Winner:
Avery Williams, CB, Boise State Avery Williams broke out for the Broncos in 2017. Defensively, the redshirt freshman had a very solid season with 45 tackles, eight passes broken up and two interceptions. On special teams, he was one of the top returners in the nation and led the Mountain West conference with a 11.2 yards-per-punt return average and two touchdowns. He also averaged 25 yards per kick return. If Williams continues to be a dynamic returner while also improving his defensive production, he has a real shot at winning the Hornung Award.
Paul Hornung Award Runner-Up:
Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia Hardman was a jack-of-all-trades for the Bulldogs in 2017. As a wide receiver, he caught 25 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns, plus toted two rushing touchdowns. On special teams, he was eighth in the nation with an average of 11.8 yards per punt return and an average of 25.3 yards per kick return. If Hardman can continue to be a leading returner and increase his production on offense, he should be one of the finalists for the Hornung Award, if not the winner.
Paul Hornung Award Dark Horse:
Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama Team sources tell me that Diggs is a first-round talent, but he lacks consistency, which has kept him on the bench at Alabama. With the Crimson Tide losing their top three corners from their 2017 team to the 2018 NFL Draft, Diggs could break out as a junior. Diggs started out his time at Alabama at wide receiver and recorded 11 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. After switching to cornerback for 2017, he had six tackles and three breakups. However, he was a good punt returner for the Crimson Tide. If Diggs has a big year as a cornerback and punt returner, he could definitely be a candidate for the Hornung Award.
Honorable Mentions: Boston College WR Michael Walker, Florida State WR D.J. Matthews, Texas WR Reggie Hemphill-Mapps, Utah State WR Jordan Nathan, Memphis WR Tony Pollard, Virginia WR receiver Joe Reed, Troy CB Marcus Jones and New Mexico State RB Jason Huntley.
2018 Preseason All-American Projections:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2018 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy |
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2018 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy |
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