Boykin Finalist For Hornung Award

FOOTBALL

Georgia senior cornerback and return specialist Brandon Boykin has been named one of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award presented by the Texas Roadhouse, according to an announcement by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC).

Boykin joins Arkansas’ Joe Adams, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Toledo’s Eric Page as the four finalists for this season’s award. Boykin leads the foursome with eight selections to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll throughout the 2011 season.

The Paul Hornung Award winner will be selected following the finalists’ participation in bowl games. Fan voting to select the winner is now open on Facebook. Fans can vote as often as once a day by going to www.votepaulhornung.com.

The award winner will be announced on approximately January 8 with the winner to be honored on February 2 in Louisville, Ky., at a banquet at the downtown Galt House Hotel.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the LSC to the most versatile player in major college football. The award was created by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of Paul Hornung, a native and lifelong resident of Louisville and member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Boykin, a 5-10, 183-pound native of Fayetteville, was named earlier this week to the Coaches All-Southeastern Conference Second Team for his versatile performance this season. Starting at cornerback 37 times in his career, Boykin is fifth on this year’s team with 48 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, and has forced two fumbles. He is also tied for second on the team with three interceptions, giving him nine in his career.

Boykin has also proven himself to be one of the nation’s most prolific return specialists. As a kickoff returner, he is the active SEC career leader with 2,593 yards, including four touchdowns (three 100 yarders, making him the only player in SEC history to record three plays of 100 yards of any kind in his career), and is second on the SEC all-time list. This season, he has piled up an SEC-best 780 kickoff return yards on 34 returns for a 22.9 average.

For the first time in his career, Boykin has also returned punts in 2011, taking 13 of them 88 yards (6.8 avg.).

On offense, Boykin has also provided a boost. He caught four balls for 58 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown reception. Boykin has run the ball five times for 95 yards, including taking his first career carry 80 yards for a touchdown versus #5 Boise State in the season opener.