Heyward On Hornung Award Watch List

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State running back Connor Heyward has been named to the 2019 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, announced Thursday by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Heyward is one of 44 players on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, the award given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.

A 2018 Hornung Award Finalist, Heyward led the Spartans in rushing last season as a sophomore (118 carries for 529 yards), rushing touchdowns (5), kick returns (13 for 287 yards) and all-purpose yards (1,065). He also ranked third on the team in scoring (30 points; five TDs) and receptions (32 for 249 yards). His 32 receptions were the most by a Spartan running back since Le'Veon Bell (32 in 2012).

Heyward, who took over the kick returner job midway through his freshman season in 2017, also led the Spartans with 287 kick return yards on 13 returns (22.1 avg.) in 2018.

A native of Duluth, Georgia, Heyward received MSU's Downtown Coaches Club Award for most outstanding player on offense. He was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten as a kick returner by the media.

In the win over Maryland on Nov. 3, Heyward ran for a career-high 157 yards on 15 carries and tied his career high with two rushing touchdowns. He scored on an 18-yard TD in the first quarter and on an 80-yard TD in the fourth quarter that put MSU on top 24-3; Heyward's 80-yard TD run was the longest of the season for MSU and the first Spartan rushing TD of at least 80 yards since 2014 (Delton Williams 80 yards vs. Eastern Michigan). Heyward also had a career-high 208 all-purpose yards (157 rushing, 49 kick return, 2 receiving), including a season-long 49-yard kickoff return to open the second half. Heyward's 157 rushing yards were the most ever by a Spartan against Maryland (previous: LJ Scott with 147 yards in 2017).

Heyward collected 177 all-purpose yards at Nebraska on Nov. 17, his second-best output of the season. On the ground, Heyward had a career-high 21 carries for 80 yards; he also had five receptions for a career-best 78 yards, including a career-long 36-yard catch in the third quarter and a 34-yard catch in the fourth quarter. In addition, he had a 19-yard kickoff return.

In MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13, Heyward compiled 79 all-purpose yards, including a 26-yard run on a fake punt that set up MSU's first TD scoring drive of the game. Later on that same drive, Heyward completed a 36-yard pass to Cam Chambers to make it first-and-goal for the Spartans.

Heyward scored two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winning 13-yard score with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, over Utah State in the season opener.

Michigan State University Athletics

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