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Boise State Athletics
Williams Earns Multiple Honors Thursday
7/23/2020 11:01:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State cornerback/punt returner Avery Williams was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List presented by Texas Roadhouse Thursday, in addition to being tabbed on Athlon Sports' Preseason All-America Second Team at punt returner and coming in at No. 49 on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks" list for The Athletic.
Thursday's Paul Hornung Award announcement marks the third-straight season in which Williams has been named to the honor's watch list. The award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
It continues a strong week of recognition for the redshirt senior, who was named to the 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team as a cornerback and punt returner Wednesday.
Williams, the reigning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and a 2019 All-Mountain West first-team selection at punt returner, was also named to both Phil Steele's and Athlon Sports' 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West First Teams at punt returner. He was also named to the College Football America 2020 Yearbook's "Group of Five Starting Lineup" at punt returner earlier this summer.
The Preseason All-America honor is the second ahead of the 2020 campaign for Williams, who was also named to the Second Team as punt returner by Phil Steele.
The Pasadena, Calif., native led the Mountain West in punt-return average (13.2 yards per return) for the second time in three years in 2019, and ranked seventh in the country. His two punt-return scores tied for the most in the country, and he even chipped in two blocked kicks on special teams.
Williams has made his mark with the Bronco defense, as well, being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention at cornerback a season ago. At cornerback, Williams broke up four passes, made 39 tackles, and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Broncos On 2020 Preseason Watch Lists
QB Hank Bachmeier
Davey O'Brien Award
TE John Bates
Mackey Award
OL Donte Harrington
Wuerffel Trophy
RB George Holani
Doak Walker Award
N Kekaula Kaniho
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Jim Thorpe Award
Lott IMPACT Trophy
WR Khalil Shakir
Biletnikoff Award
CB Jalen Walker
Chuck Bednarik Award
Jim Thorpe Award
CB/PR Avery Williams
Paul Hornung Award
Thursday's Paul Hornung Award announcement marks the third-straight season in which Williams has been named to the honor's watch list. The award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
It continues a strong week of recognition for the redshirt senior, who was named to the 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West Team as a cornerback and punt returner Wednesday.
Williams, the reigning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, and a 2019 All-Mountain West first-team selection at punt returner, was also named to both Phil Steele's and Athlon Sports' 2020 Preseason All-Mountain West First Teams at punt returner. He was also named to the College Football America 2020 Yearbook's "Group of Five Starting Lineup" at punt returner earlier this summer.
The Preseason All-America honor is the second ahead of the 2020 campaign for Williams, who was also named to the Second Team as punt returner by Phil Steele.
The Pasadena, Calif., native led the Mountain West in punt-return average (13.2 yards per return) for the second time in three years in 2019, and ranked seventh in the country. His two punt-return scores tied for the most in the country, and he even chipped in two blocked kicks on special teams.
Williams has made his mark with the Bronco defense, as well, being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention at cornerback a season ago. At cornerback, Williams broke up four passes, made 39 tackles, and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Broncos On 2020 Preseason Watch Lists
QB Hank Bachmeier
Davey O'Brien Award
TE John Bates
Mackey Award
OL Donte Harrington
Wuerffel Trophy
RB George Holani
Doak Walker Award
N Kekaula Kaniho
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Jim Thorpe Award
Lott IMPACT Trophy
WR Khalil Shakir
Biletnikoff Award
CB Jalen Walker
Chuck Bednarik Award
Jim Thorpe Award
CB/PR Avery Williams
Paul Hornung Award
Players Mentioned
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