CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois senior wide receiver and All-America punt returner Hank Beatty has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Paul Hornung Award. The announcement was made Thursday by the Louisville Sports Commission.
PAUL HORNUNG AWARD
The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The award was created by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of the Golden Boy himself, Paul Hornung, a native and lifelong resident of Louisville and member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
HANK BEATTY
- 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team (Punt Return)
- 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team (Punt Return)
- 2024 Phil Steele All-American Honorable Mention
- 2024 All-Big Ten Third Team (Media)
- 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Coaches)
- Led the Big Ten and ranked fourth in the nation with 14.1 yards per punt return in 2024, the No. 7-ranked single-season average in Illinois program history
- 310 punt return yards ranked No. 2 in Illinois single-season history, behind only Dike Eddleman's 77-year-old Illinois record of 323 punt return yards set in 1947
- Caught 20 passes for 294 yards and one touchdown in 2024, capped by a career-high 90 receiving yards in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over #14 South Carolina
ILLINI ON WATCH LISTS (AS OF JULY 31)
