Watkins Named to Hornung Award Watch List - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

Clemson All-American receiver Sammy Watkins has been named to the Hornung Award Watch List for 2012.  The honor is named after former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy (1956) winner Paul Hornung and is presented to the top all-purpose player in college football.           

Last year, Watkins gained 2,288 all-purpose yards and ranked fourth in the nation in all-purpose yardage per game.  His 2,288 total led the ACC and was the second highest total in Clemson history.  Only C.J. Spiller's 2,680 yards in 2009 is greater.           

Watkins 2,288 yards last year set an ACC freshman record, as did his 82 receptions, 12 receiving touchdowns and 1219 receiving yards.  His yardage total was a Clemson record regardless of class.           

Watkins was named the first-team AP All-America all-purpose player last year, just the fourth true freshman in college football history to be named a first-team AP All-American as a non-kicker.           

Eight Clemson players have been named to various Watch lists 16 times during the preseason.  Tajh Boyd has been named to the watch list for four awards, while Dalton Freeman and Sammy Watkins are listed on three watch lists apiece.

Clemson Players on Preseason Watch Lists for 2012

     Player                              Award                             Honor

     Andre Ellington                Doak Walker                   Top Running Back

                                             Maxwell Award                Top Player

     DeAndre Hopkins            Biletnikoff Award             Top Receiver

     Dalton Freeman              Rimington Award             Top Center

                                             Outland Trophy               Top Lineman

                                             Lombardi Award              Top Lineman

     Brandon Ford                  John Mackey                  Top Tight End

     Chandler Catanzaro        Lou Groza                        Top Place Kicker

     Malliciah Goodman         Hendricks Award             Top Defensive End

     Tajh Boyd                        Davey O'Brien                 Top Quarterback

                                             Walter Camp                   Top Player

                                             Maxwell Award                Top Player

                                             Manning Award               Top Quarterback

     Sammy Watkins              Maxwell Award                Top Player

                                             Walter Camp                   Top Player

                                             Hornung Award               Top All-Purpose