ATHENS - Brandon Boykin, Georgia's senior cornerback-kick returner-punt returner-offensive cameo specialist, was named the winner of the Paul Hornung award, given annually to the nation's most versatile player.
Here is the official release from UGA, which includes quotes from Boykin, Hornung - the legendary Notre Dame and Green Bay Packer - and Georgia head coach Mark Richt:
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Boykin topped Arkansas’ Joe Adams, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Toledo’s Eric Page for the honor in the award’s second year. Boykin will now be honored on Feb. 2 at the Galt House in downtown Louisville during the annual Paul Hornung Award banquet.
"My experience at Georgia has changed my life in so many positive ways and allowed me to be considered for such a prestigious honor,” said Boykin. “Being a Georgia Bulldog has helped groom me into the individual I am on and off the field. Winning the Paul Hornung Award is an amazing accomplishment and one that I will forever cherish as one of my greatest accomplishments. I am humbled by the fact that I was selected as the winner by Mr. Hornung andeveryone else involved with the selection process. I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, fans and the entire Georgia program for helping me to achieve this incredible achievement."
"It's rare for a modern-day college football player to perform at a high level in all three phases of the game, especially in an elite conference," Paul Hornung said. "From what I've seen of Brandon Boykin, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win games. That's how I played the game. Brandon Boykin is a deserving winner of thePaul Hornung Award."
Bulldog head coach Mark Richt has witnessed Boykin be one of his defensive anchors since his sophomore season in 2009 as he started 38 career games for Georgia, including the last 22 in a row.
“There are not many players who have the skill sets Brandon possesses and he’s certainly the model of what the Hornung Award represents,” said Richt. “I wish I had three of him. He could start on offense, defense, and special teams. He’s an outstanding person as well, a great leader, and a great Georgia man. We have been blessed to have him as a Georgia Bulldog.”
The Fayetteville, Ga., native was a second team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the league coaches and a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in 2011 after recording 55 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a safety. A threat in the return game as well, Boykin added 850 kickoff return yards and 180 punt return yards.
He was also used on the offensive side of the ball this year, rushing for 103 yards and a score and catching five passes for 71 yards and another two touchdowns. For his career, the 5-10, 183-pound Bulldog is Georgia's all-time leader in kickoff return yardage with 2,663, which ranks second on the SEC's all-time list.
