TEMPE, Ariz.-- Arizona State junior Eno Benjamin and senior Kyle Williams added to their growing list of preseason honors as the pair was named to the 2019 Wuerffel Award preseason Watch List, announced by the Chick-fil-A Foundation® Thursday morning. In addition to the Wuerffel Watch List nod, Benjamin was also named to the Preseason Watch List for the prestigious Paul Hornung Award, an honor given annually to to the most versatile player in college football.
Williams is a standout player on the field, as well as in the classroom. While he has also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success off the field during his time as a Sun Devil. He has twice earned All-Pac-12 Academic recognition, earning a second-team nod following the 2018 season. While most players enjoy their summer's off, Williams has spent his summers shadowing Dr. Anikar Chhabra at the world–renowned Mayo Clinic, working as a research intern. While Williams does have hopes of one-day playing in the NFL, he also has a long-term goal of pursuing a career in medicine.
Benjamin, who has now been named to four preseason watch lists, will return to the field in 2019 looking to top his impressive offensive production from the 2018 season. Following a historic sophomore campaign that saw him lead the Sun Devil rushing attack, Benjamin will look to factor in ASU's special team attack. The talented junior will see an increased roll in ASU's special teams unit, appearing as a return specialist following the departure of N'Keal Harry who was drafted by the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots in the first round of last year's NFL draft. He topped the Pac-12 with a school-record 1,642 rushing yards, carding triple-digit efforts on nine different occasions. Following the season, Eno was Arizona State's lone representative on the All-Conference First Team.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on October 15. A current list of nominees can be found at beginning on August 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 5 and finalists will be announced on November 18.
The Paul Hornung Award has an impressive legacy. Rondale Moore, the 2018 Paul Hornung Award winner, was named a consensus All-American and Big Ten Receiver of the Year as a true freshman; two of the five 2018 finalists currently are on NFL rosters, and the other three finalists are on the 2018 Watch List. Six of the eight Hornung Award winners prior to Moore were first round draft picks and currently are playing in the NFL.
Hornung, who maintains an office in downtown Louisville, earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood 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."
The 2019 Watch List for the Hornung Award was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2018 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations, and expectations heading into the 2019 season. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2019 regular season based on performance.
Williams is a standout player on the field, as well as in the classroom. While he has also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success off the field during his time as a Sun Devil. He has twice earned All-Pac-12 Academic recognition, earning a second-team nod following the 2018 season. While most players enjoy their summer's off, Williams has spent his summers shadowing Dr. Anikar Chhabra at the world–renowned Mayo Clinic, working as a research intern. While Williams does have hopes of one-day playing in the NFL, he also has a long-term goal of pursuing a career in medicine.
Benjamin, who has now been named to four preseason watch lists, will return to the field in 2019 looking to top his impressive offensive production from the 2018 season. Following a historic sophomore campaign that saw him lead the Sun Devil rushing attack, Benjamin will look to factor in ASU's special team attack. The talented junior will see an increased roll in ASU's special teams unit, appearing as a return specialist following the departure of N'Keal Harry who was drafted by the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots in the first round of last year's NFL draft. He topped the Pac-12 with a school-record 1,642 rushing yards, carding triple-digit efforts on nine different occasions. Following the season, Eno was Arizona State's lone representative on the All-Conference First Team.
Nominations for the Wuerffel Trophy are made by the respective universities' Sports Information Departments and will close on October 15. A current list of nominees can be found at beginning on August 1. Semifinalists for the award will be announced on November 5 and finalists will be announced on November 18.
The Paul Hornung Award has an impressive legacy. Rondale Moore, the 2018 Paul Hornung Award winner, was named a consensus All-American and Big Ten Receiver of the Year as a true freshman; two of the five 2018 finalists currently are on NFL rosters, and the other three finalists are on the 2018 Watch List. Six of the eight Hornung Award winners prior to Moore were first round draft picks and currently are playing in the NFL.
Hornung, who maintains an office in downtown Louisville, earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood 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."
The 2019 Watch List for the Hornung Award was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of 2018 statistics, career performance, SID recommendations, and expectations heading into the 2019 season. Players will be added to the Watch List during the 2019 regular season based on performance.