November 12, 2026 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky.ย โ Texas Tech junior running back J'Koby Williams was named a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award on Thursday, as announced by the Louisville Sports Commission. Williams is one of seven finalists for the end-of-season award, which recognizes the most versatile player in major college football.
The dynamic Red Raider is a finalist for the award for the second consecutive season following his sophomore campaign. Texas A&M's KC Concepcion, who was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, took home last year's honor. Williams is joined as a 2026 finalist by UCLA running back Wayne Knight, Boise State running back Dylan Riley, Iowa State running back Aiden Flora, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, FAU wide receiver Easton Messer and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier.
The Texas Tech breakaway threat also lines up as a slot receiver and is a featured return specialist on kickoffs. He has tallied 1,389 all-purpose yards through nine games for the Red Raiders. That total includes 954 yards on the ground as he approaches the 1,000-yard mark, a milestone that would make him the 10th player in school history and the third under Joey McGuire to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Williams enters Week 11 of the 2026 season ranked second in the FBS in yards per carry (8.0) and fifth in all-purpose yards per game (154.3). He has rushed for at least 100 yards in four games this season after totaling a career-high 175 yards against then-No. 22 Arizona and 160 yards against West Virginia. He leads the Red Raiders in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with seven.
Williams ranks third in the FBS with 12 rushes of at least 20 yards this season and has a team-best 14 explosive plays, including a pair of receptions. He trails only Iowa State's Aiden Flora (14) and Duke's Nate Sheppard (13) in explosive rushes and ranks among the top 20 in the FBS in explosive plays overall.
Williams has proven to be a threat not only as a rusher but also as a pass catcher and kick returner. He ranks fifth in the FBS and second in the Big 12 with 154.3 all-purpose yards per game, thanks to 208 receiving yards and an additional 227 yards as a kick returner.
Williams was a Hornung Award finalist a year ago after averaging an impressive 40.3 yards on his six kick returns, including one returned for a touchdown. He is averaging 28.4 yards per return on eight attempts so far this season and has brought back three kicks for at least 30 yards, including one for more than 40 yards. That average would rank eighth in the FBS if Williams met the NCAA statistical minimum of 1.2 kick returns per game.
Williams, who has already been recognized several times this year by the Paul Hornung Award organization, was selected as the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week on Nov. 2 following his performance in the Red Raiders' 34-26 victory over Arizona on Oct. 31. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll twice this season, following his Week 9 performance against Arizona and the Red Raiders' victory over Arizona State in Week 7.
Texas Tech heads into a pivotal road contest this Saturday at Oklahoma State. Good things happened when Williams touched the ball in the 2025 matchup, as he sparked the Red Raiders' victory with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game. Williams scored twice in the win, finding the end zone again on Texas Tech's first play from scrimmage on a 26-yard touchdown reception from Will Hammond. Williams, who had three catches for 60 yards and four carries for 10 yards in the win, was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 17th season, is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). The award pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10, and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in downtown Louisville on March 8, 2027.
The dynamic Red Raider is a finalist for the award for the second consecutive season following his sophomore campaign. Texas A&M's KC Concepcion, who was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, took home last year's honor. Williams is joined as a 2026 finalist by UCLA running back Wayne Knight, Boise State running back Dylan Riley, Iowa State running back Aiden Flora, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, FAU wide receiver Easton Messer and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier.
The Texas Tech breakaway threat also lines up as a slot receiver and is a featured return specialist on kickoffs. He has tallied 1,389 all-purpose yards through nine games for the Red Raiders. That total includes 954 yards on the ground as he approaches the 1,000-yard mark, a milestone that would make him the 10th player in school history and the third under Joey McGuire to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Williams enters Week 11 of the 2026 season ranked second in the FBS in yards per carry (8.0) and fifth in all-purpose yards per game (154.3). He has rushed for at least 100 yards in four games this season after totaling a career-high 175 yards against then-No. 22 Arizona and 160 yards against West Virginia. He leads the Red Raiders in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with seven.
Williams ranks third in the FBS with 12 rushes of at least 20 yards this season and has a team-best 14 explosive plays, including a pair of receptions. He trails only Iowa State's Aiden Flora (14) and Duke's Nate Sheppard (13) in explosive rushes and ranks among the top 20 in the FBS in explosive plays overall.
Williams has proven to be a threat not only as a rusher but also as a pass catcher and kick returner. He ranks fifth in the FBS and second in the Big 12 with 154.3 all-purpose yards per game, thanks to 208 receiving yards and an additional 227 yards as a kick returner.
Williams was a Hornung Award finalist a year ago after averaging an impressive 40.3 yards on his six kick returns, including one returned for a touchdown. He is averaging 28.4 yards per return on eight attempts so far this season and has brought back three kicks for at least 30 yards, including one for more than 40 yards. That average would rank eighth in the FBS if Williams met the NCAA statistical minimum of 1.2 kick returns per game.
Williams, who has already been recognized several times this year by the Paul Hornung Award organization, was selected as the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week on Nov. 2 following his performance in the Red Raiders' 34-26 victory over Arizona on Oct. 31. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll twice this season, following his Week 9 performance against Arizona and the Red Raiders' victory over Arizona State in Week 7.
Texas Tech heads into a pivotal road contest this Saturday at Oklahoma State. Good things happened when Williams touched the ball in the 2025 matchup, as he sparked the Red Raiders' victory with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game. Williams scored twice in the win, finding the end zone again on Texas Tech's first play from scrimmage on a 26-yard touchdown reception from Will Hammond. Williams, who had three catches for 60 yards and four carries for 10 yards in the win, was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, now in its 17th season, is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC). The award pays tribute to the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10, and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in downtown Louisville on March 8, 2027.
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