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Jackson Tabbed to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
7/23/2020 1:00:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke senior running back Deon Jackson was named to the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, an honor given to the most versatile player in the nation by The Louisville Sports Commission.
It is the second watch list honor for Jackson, who is on the preseason list for the 2020 Doak Walker Award, which is presented to the nation's top running back each season.
Jackson, a 6-0, 215-pound native of Atlanta, Ga., is a preseason All-ACC selection by Athlon Sports (3rd team). In 37 career games, he has amassed 1,585 yards and 13 touchdowns on 365 carries in addition to catching 51 passes for 449 yards and four scores. As a kick return specialist, Jackson has returned 28 kickoffs for 611 yards.
The senior is currently 19th in Duke's all-time career rushing yards list and is only 316 yards shy of breaking into the top-10. His 847 rushing yards in 2018 was the highest total yards for a back in the David Cutcliffe era at Duke and the 10th highest in a single season in Blue Devil history. Against Pittsburgh in 2018, Jackson established a Duke record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) and was just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yard plateau.
Among active players returning to the ACC, Jackson enters the 2020 campaign ranking third in career all-purpose yards (2,645), fourth in rushing yards (1,585), fifth in rushing touchdowns (13) and sixth in overall touchdowns scored (17). An all-purpose weapon, he also ranks fourth in kickoff returns (28), fifth in kick return yards (611), ninth in kick return yards per game (16.5) and 10th in all-purpose yards per game (71.5).
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 11th 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 dinner at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on March 2021.
The 2020 Watch List is comprised of 50 players – 18 seniors, 22 juniors, nine sophomores and one grad transfer who play a total of eight different positions. These players represent 50 universities located in 28 states coast-to-coast that are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. All 10 FBS conferences and one independent school are represented on the Watch List; the SEC leads the conferences with eight players, followed by ACC with seven players and the Pac-12 and MWC with six players each.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
Duke Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Victor Dimukeje & Chris Rumph II
Doak Walker Award: Deon Jackson
John Mackey Award: Noah Gray
Bronko Nagurski Trophy: Victor Dimukeje
Outland Trophy: Jack Wohlabaugh
Wuerffel Trophy: Rakavius Chambers
Paul Hornung Award: Deon Jackson
#GoDuke
It is the second watch list honor for Jackson, who is on the preseason list for the 2020 Doak Walker Award, which is presented to the nation's top running back each season.
Jackson, a 6-0, 215-pound native of Atlanta, Ga., is a preseason All-ACC selection by Athlon Sports (3rd team). In 37 career games, he has amassed 1,585 yards and 13 touchdowns on 365 carries in addition to catching 51 passes for 449 yards and four scores. As a kick return specialist, Jackson has returned 28 kickoffs for 611 yards.
The senior is currently 19th in Duke's all-time career rushing yards list and is only 316 yards shy of breaking into the top-10. His 847 rushing yards in 2018 was the highest total yards for a back in the David Cutcliffe era at Duke and the 10th highest in a single season in Blue Devil history. Against Pittsburgh in 2018, Jackson established a Duke record with 403 all-purpose yards (162 rushing, 89 receiving and 152 kickoff return) and was just the third player in ACC history to reach the 400 all-purpose yard plateau.
Among active players returning to the ACC, Jackson enters the 2020 campaign ranking third in career all-purpose yards (2,645), fourth in rushing yards (1,585), fifth in rushing touchdowns (13) and sixth in overall touchdowns scored (17). An all-purpose weapon, he also ranks fourth in kickoff returns (28), fifth in kick return yards (611), ninth in kick return yards per game (16.5) and 10th in all-purpose yards per game (71.5).
The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 11th 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 dinner at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville on March 2021.
The 2020 Watch List is comprised of 50 players – 18 seniors, 22 juniors, nine sophomores and one grad transfer who play a total of eight different positions. These players represent 50 universities located in 28 states coast-to-coast that are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. All 10 FBS conferences and one independent school are represented on the Watch List; the SEC leads the conferences with eight players, followed by ACC with seven players and the Pac-12 and MWC with six players each.
Season tickets are available online at www.GoDuke.com/FootballTix or by calling the Duke Athletic Ticket Office at 919-681-2583.
Duke Players on 2020 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Victor Dimukeje & Chris Rumph II
Doak Walker Award: Deon Jackson
John Mackey Award: Noah Gray
Bronko Nagurski Trophy: Victor Dimukeje
Outland Trophy: Jack Wohlabaugh
Wuerffel Trophy: Rakavius Chambers
Paul Hornung Award: Deon Jackson
#GoDuke
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