LSU wide receiver/return specialist Odell Beckham Jr. is this year’s recipient of the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in college football.
The award is in its fourth year of existence. Hornung, of course, may be as well known for his 1956 Heisman Trophy as he is for his 2004 remarks about Notre Dame needing to recruit the “black athlete.”
Beckham set an LSU record with 2,222 all-purpose yards this season, which also ranks third in SEC history. Of those yards, 1,117 came on 57 receptions. Here’s Beckham’s statement about winning the award, for any PR junkies out there:
“It’s just an honor and a blessing to even be mentioned with the other guys who were up for the Hornung Award,” Beckham said. “I am proud to accept the award and thank the committee for recognizing me. It means a lot to me personally because I have worked extremely hard, long before this season started. I had great teammates help me along the way, especially on kickoff and punt returns. None of the opportunities to display my versatility would have been possible if it weren’t for my teammates and coaches who put me in a position to succeed.”
