Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Connor Heyward, Jayden Reed Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
7/30/2021 7:25:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State running back Connor Heyward and wide receiver Jayden Reed have been named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, the Louisville Sports Commission announced on Thursday.
A finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as a sophomore in 2018, Heyward played in just four games to preserve his redshirt year in 2019, but started in six games in 2020 while leading the team in carries (65) and ranking second in rushing yards (200). The 6-foot, 230-pound Heyward leads all active Spartans with 1,932 all-purpose yards and has rushed for 818 yards and five TDs on 210 carries. The three-year letterwinner, who has played in 36 career games, including 15 starts, also has 61 receptions for 385 yards; he had two receiving TDs in the win at Michigan last season.
Reed, in his first year as a Spartan in 2020, led the team with 33 catches and ranked 10th in the league in receptions per game (4.7). He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a kick returner after ranking fourth in the conference in kick returns (20.6 avg.). The 6-foot, 185-pound Reed also ranked second on the team in receiving yards (407) and eighth in the league in all-purpose yards (109.6 ypg; 767 total).
A transfer from Western Michigan, Reed sat out the 2019 season after earning Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos in 2018. In his first game wearing the Green and White, Reed became the first Spartan to record 100 yards in a Spartan debut with 11 receptions for 128 yards against Rutgers on Oct. 24, including two touchdowns.
Michigan State opens the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Northwestern. The game will begin at 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
A finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as a sophomore in 2018, Heyward played in just four games to preserve his redshirt year in 2019, but started in six games in 2020 while leading the team in carries (65) and ranking second in rushing yards (200). The 6-foot, 230-pound Heyward leads all active Spartans with 1,932 all-purpose yards and has rushed for 818 yards and five TDs on 210 carries. The three-year letterwinner, who has played in 36 career games, including 15 starts, also has 61 receptions for 385 yards; he had two receiving TDs in the win at Michigan last season.
Reed, in his first year as a Spartan in 2020, led the team with 33 catches and ranked 10th in the league in receptions per game (4.7). He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a kick returner after ranking fourth in the conference in kick returns (20.6 avg.). The 6-foot, 185-pound Reed also ranked second on the team in receiving yards (407) and eighth in the league in all-purpose yards (109.6 ypg; 767 total).
A transfer from Western Michigan, Reed sat out the 2019 season after earning Freshman All-America honors for the Broncos in 2018. In his first game wearing the Green and White, Reed became the first Spartan to record 100 yards in a Spartan debut with 11 receptions for 128 yards against Rutgers on Oct. 24, including two touchdowns.
Michigan State opens the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at Northwestern. The game will begin at 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
WR
/ FootballA New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24