Pharoh Cooper named to Hornung Award watch list

This morning, a bunch of football experts, writer-folk, and media-types named FAY-Roh (n.) to the preseason watch list for the Hornung Award. Given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission, the award showcases the most versatile player in the NCAA. Its namesake, former Notre Dame and Green Bay Packers great Paul Hornung, was the first player to win the Heisman Trophy, be selected first in the NFL Draft, win the NFL's MVP Award, and be inducted to both the college and professional Hall of Fame. Oh, by the way, he also lettered three years in basketball... (rub it in, guy)

The preseason watch list is compiled using an average of career statistics, 2014 statistics, recommendations from the SID's office, and 2015 projections.

It goes without saying that #11 is the Swiss-Army Knife of this year's USC program, and arguably one the most multi-talented players on the South Carolina Gamecocks' roster since Stephon Gilmore (sorry, BRUUUUUCE). Cooper, a 2014 First-Team All-SEC selection, hopes to continue what has been an incredibly productive career at Carolina: progressing from coach-able, talented dual-threat athlete, to breakout sensation, to arguably the SEC's best returning wide receiver. He has compiled over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his first two seasons, broken records, won hearts, and changed games in Columbia. He's also going to be a target this year. How he deals with this new set of circumstances could make or break the Gamecocks (and one of GABA's favorite players') season.

With preseason All-America, All-Conference, Heisman (SPOILER ALERT), and professional career implications at stake, we hope that there's nothing but an upward trend for our boy @KingTutt_chdown.

I mean, nobody has ever over-hyped a Carolina player before, right?

FOLLOW THE HORNUNG WATCH LIST HERE