Beshears Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List

Aug. 2, 2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kansas senior wide receiver/kick returner D.J. Beshears has been named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. The senior was one of 49 players selected to the award’s list by the Louisville Sports Commission on Thursday.

Beshears, a 5-foot-9 senior from Denton, Texas, was also named to the watch list before last season. In 2011, Beshears led the Big 12 in kick return yards (1,014) and finished third in all-purpose yards (1,587) after amassing 437 yards receiving and 64 rushing. His kick return yardage set a school record, while his all-purpose yards ranked fifth in KU history. He scored three touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. He is the only active Jayhawk to have a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and a kick return touchdown in his career.

As a junior, Beshears was one of the most decorated players on the team, garnering All-Big 12 Honorable Mention from the league and Midseason All-Big 12 Third Team by Phil Steele Magazine. His honor from the Phil Steele publication was the second of his career, while he was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week once in 2010.

The Paul Hornung Award, now in its third year of existence, annually honors the most versatile player in college football. The 2012 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts and was based on 2011 statistics, career performance and expectations heading into the 2012 season.

The Selection Committee, comprised of 16 national sports journalists and former college and NFL players, will narrow the field to a small group of finalists in early December. The winner will be selected in early January from among the finalists following the bowl season.

Kansas opens its 2012 season by hosting South Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.