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DENTON, Texas – Fifth-year running back DeAndre Torrey was one of 57 players named to the watch list for the 2021 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse given annually to the nation’s most versatile player, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday. Torrey, who ranks among the top offensive skill players in North Texas' recent history, ranks seventh in program history for career rushing touchdowns (23), is tied for eighth in career total touchdowns (rushing/receiving/returns) with 27, stands 12th in career rushing yards (2,013) and is ninth in career all-purpose yards (3,324). The Gautier, Miss. native had 851 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in 2020. The Paul Hornung Award, now in its 12th season, is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission in the memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville in March 2021. The 2021 watch list players represent 53 universities from all 10 football conferences, plus four independent schools, that are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The SEC leads the conferences with nine players; the Big Ten and Big 12 each landed eight players; C-USA, Mountain West and Pac 12 each have five players; the AAC and ACC have four; and the MAC and Sun Belt have three each. Independents Army, BYU, Liberty and Notre Dame each have one player on the list. The Paul Hornung Award has created an impressive legacy in 11 years including seven winners who were first round NFL draft picks – DeVonta Smith, Tavon Austin, Odell Beckham Jr., Shaq Thompson, Christian McCaffrey, Jabrill Peppers and Saquon Barkley. Hornung, who passed away in his hometown at age 84 on Nov. 13, 2020, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game." North Texas opens the 2021 season at Apogee Stadium against Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2021 season are now available online. Any ticket-related questions may be directed to the Mean Green Athletics Ticket Office via email at ticketoffice@unt.edu or by phone at (940) 565-2527. Be sure to keep an eye on MeanGreenSports.com, follow Mean Green Sports on social media @MeanGreenSports and Mean Green football at @MeanGreenFB for all of the latest information on the upcoming 2021 football season.