Raheem Blackshear Named To Paul Hornung Award Watch List

On Thursday, Rutgers running back Raheem Blackshear was one of 44 players named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. It is handed out each college football season to the most versatile player in the country and is named after the former Notre Dame great.

Blackshear produced 1,136 all-purpose yards last season, including 586 rushing yards and 367 receiving yards, as well as 5 touchdowns. He was the first Rutgers player to lead the team in rushing and receiving yards in 33 years. He is one of eight players named to the Hornung Award Watch List from the Big Ten conference. For the complete list, click here.

The only other Rutgers players named to any preseason watch list so far was Mike Maietti, who was included on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, awarded to the nation’s best center and Adam Korsak for the Ray Guy Award for best punter.

Blackshear, a junior captain, is expected to be a focal point of the Rutgers offense once again this season. His pass catching skills make him dangerous in open space and despite his small size (5’9”, 192 pounds), Blackshear has averaged 4,5 yards per carry over 182 rushing attempts in his college career so far. He also has averaged 9.8 yards per reception over 51 catches in his first two seasons. If Rutgers does have a bounce back season and challenges for a bowl berth this fall, Blackshear will be a big reason why.

To read about ten keys for Rutgers to have success this season, click here.