ORLANDO - UCF senior wide receiver Ryan O'Keefe has been named to the watch list (one of 52 players) for the 2022 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse to the nation's most versatile player.
Pacing the 2022 Knights' wide receivers will be O'Keefe (84 rec. for 812 yards, 7 TDs; 16 rushes for 274, 1 TD in 2021; second-team all-American Athletic Conference by vote of league coaches and by Pro Football Network), who caught more passes in 2021 than any UCF player in 15 seasons. O'Keefe capped his junior campaign by winning the MVP award in the Knights' Gasparilla Bowl win over Florida, thanks to his 255 all-purpose yards.
O'Keefe also is among names on the preseason watch list for the 2022 Biletnikoff Award that goes to the outstanding receiver in college football.
O'Keefe, from Austin, Texas (Round Rock High School), is a preseason first-team all-AAC pick by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele and a second-team selection by Lindy's.
Here are O'Keefe's career statistics:
--Receiving: 111 for 1,277 and 10 TDs (84 for 812 and 7 in 2021)
--Rushing: 16 for 274 and 1 TD (all that in 2021)
--Passing: 3 of 3 for 66 and 2 TDs (all that in 2021)
--Kickoff Returns: 18 for 421 (7 for 181 in 2021)
The Paul Hornung Award selection committee, comprised of 17 sports journalists and football experts from across the country, will pick from among five award finalists who will be announced in November.
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed.
Here are some of the career achievements accumulated by Hornung, a Louisville product who starred at Notre Dame and for the NFL Green Bay Packers:
- 1956 Heisman Trophy winner
- 1955 and 1956 All-America quarterback
- Led NFL in scoring 1959-60-61
- 1961 NFL MVP
- First player selected by New Orleans Saints in 1967 NFL Expansion Draft
- 1985 inductee into National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame
- 1986 inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
Here are UCF players who have appeared to date on watch lists for the 2022 national college football awards:
--RB Isaiah Bowser (Doak Walker and Wuerffel)
--RB Johnny Richardson (Doak Walker)
--WR Ryan O'Keefe (Biletnikoff and Hornung)
--C Matt Lee (Rimington)
--TE Kemore Gamble (Mackey)
--CB Davonte Brown (Thorpe)
--OL Lokahi Pauole (Outland)
--S Divaad Wilson (Nagurski)
--P Andrew Osteen (Guy)