Four Players from Three Conferences and One Independent Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll in Week 5
Week 5 Honor Roll: Aiden Flora, Iowa State; Samari Howard, Army; Dijon Lee Jr., Alabama; Jonaz Walton, Notre Dame
Award Presented by Texas Roadhouse to Most Versatile Player in Major College Football
Louisville, Ky. – Oct. 6, 2026 – Four players representing the Big 12, AAC and SEC along with one independent were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in Week 5 of the college football season. Making the list are Aiden Flora, Iowa State; Samari Howard, Army; Dijon Lee Jr., Alabama; and Jonaz Walton, Notre Dame.
The National College Football Awards Association will honor Flora as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week for his performance in Iowa State’s home win over West Virginia.
Iowa State sophomore running back / return specialist Aiden Fiora touched the ball 24 times two different ways and accounted for 260 total yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner, in the Cyclones’ heart-stopping, 45-42 home win over WVU. Flora threw touchdown passes of 46 and two yards, and he carried the ball 22 times for 222 yards, including scoring runs of 24, 63 and two yards. His final touchdown closed out the scoring with 1:57 remaining.
United State Military Academy (Army) senior running back / return specialist Samari Howard touched the ball 15 times three different ways for 187 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in the Black Knights’ 31-29 road loss to Louisiana Tech. Howard carried the ball 12 times for 158 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run early in the second half, and accounted for five first downs rushing, four on scoring drives. He also caught two passes and handled one kickoff return.
Alabama sophomore defensive back / return specialist Dijon Lee Jr. was a force on defense and special teams as the Crimson Tide overwhelmed Mississippi State 56-23 in Starkville. Lee’s 30-yard pick-six in the first quarter spotted Alabama a two-score lead and set the tone for the game. He also made one tackle, had one pass deflection, returned two kickoffs for 72 yards and fielded one punt.
Notre Dame freshman running back / return specialist Jonaz Walton touched the ball 26 times three different ways for 176 all-purpose yards in Notre Dame’s 37-26, rain-soaked win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Walton carried the ball 23 times for 120 yards, caught two passes for 28 yards and accounted for seven first downs from scrimmage, including five first downs on scoring drives. He also returned one kickoff 28 yards.
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed. Each week during the regular season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 19th vote.
2026 Paul Hornung Award Roll
- Week 1: Wayne Knight, UCLA; Turbo Richard, Indiana; Tre Richardson, Louisville; Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma; Aneyas Williams, Notre Dame.
- Week 2: Maguire Anderson, FIU; Anthony Evans III, Mississippi State; Cam’rom Lacy, Middle Tennessee; Hollywood Smothers, Texas
- Week 3: Aiden Flora, Iowa State; Davian Jackson, Texas State; Wayne Knight, UCLA; Caleb Nix, Jacksonville State; Keenan Phillips, South Alabama
- Week 4: Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama; Dierre Hill, Jr., Oregon; Javen Jacobs, Utah State; Wayne Knight, UCLA; Qua Moss, Tennessee