SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State's Juwan Washington and Parker Houston continued to earn preseason recognition when they were both named to watch lists recognized by the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) on Thursday. Washington made the Paul Hornung Award Watch list for the most versatile player, while Houston landed on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List which combines community service, athletic and academic achievements.
It is the second preseason watch list for both Washington (also the Maxwell Award for college player of the year) and Houston (also the Mackey Award for outstanding collegiate tight end.
Washington rushed 199 times for 999 yards (5.0 avg.) with 10 touchdowns last year, despite missing 4 ½ games with an injury. An honorable mention MW selection in 2018, Washington ranked second in the MW and 13th in FBS in rushing yards per game (111.0, min. 190 att.), second (30th in FBS) in rush avg. (5.0, min. 190 att.), tied for fourth (T-57th in FBS) in rushing touchdowns (10), fifth (64th in FBS) in rushing yards (999) and eighth in total touchdowns (10). According to Pro Football Focus, Washington ranked 33rd in FBS (No. 4 in MW) with 41 forced missed tackles and 34th (No. 2 in MW) in 15-yard runs (15), despite the missed games. On Tuesday, Washington was named a preseason all-MW pick.
Washington is one of 44 players on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse. The award is named after Paul Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner who played every position in the offensive backfield during his Notre Dame career, and was a triple-threat halfback and placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the early 1960s. Hornung earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood 46 years and is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
The winner will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner to be held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville, Ky., on March 4, 2020.
Houston is coming off a junior season in 2018 when he started all 13 games at tight end, recording 16 passes for 178 yards (11.1 avg.), two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion. For his career, Houston has 27 catches for 266 yards (9.9 avg.) with three touchdowns, starting 24 of his 36 career games played. His 36 straight games played is the second-longest streak on the team.
The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is presented each February in Fort Walton Beach. Named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel from the University of Florida, the Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy will be announced on Nov. 5 and finalists will be released on Nov. 18. The formal announcement of the 2019 recipient will be made at the National Football Foundation's festivities in New York City on Dec. 10 with the presentation set for the 51st All Sports Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 14, 2020 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
The Aztecs finished 2018 with a 7-6 record, including wins over No. 23/25 Arizona State and rv/No. 24 Boise State. SDSU is one of 14 teams to make a bowl game in nine consecutive seasons. San Diego State returns its leading passer (Ryan Agnew), rusher (Juwan Washington) and tackler (Kyahva Tezino) from a year ago.
SDSU's Mountain West home schedule features the two teams that finished atop the West Division standings last year (Fresno State and Nevada), and two cross-division opponents with the best league record (Utah State) and the third-best mark on the Mountain Division (Wyoming). Overall, San Diego State's four Mountain West home games come against teams that went a combined 23-9 in league competition, while its four conference road contests are against teams that went 10-22 in league play.
The Aztecs kick off their 2019 season at home on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Weber State at 6 p.m. PT, followed by the KGB SkyShow.
For more ticket information, visit GoAztecs.com, call (619) 283-7378 or visit SDCCU Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
Juwan Washington and Parker Houston on Watch Lists
