Bentley Named to Hornung Award Watch List
Senior Cornerback, Kick Returner Among 44 Honored on Initial List
Senior Cornerback, Kick Returner Among 44 Honored on Initial List
Hornung Award Watch List
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Illinois senior cornerback and kick returner V'Angelo Bentley has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2015 Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission. It marks the second straight season he has been recognized on the watch list.
Bentley is the only player in Illinois history with a kickoff return, punt return, interception return and fumble return for touchdown in his career. Last season, he recorded 46 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, an interception, two PBUs and two forced fumbles. He had an interception return for touchdown against Texas State and a fumble return for the game-winning touchdown against Minnesota.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native led the team with 692 kick return yards and 123 punt return yards for 815 total return yards, which ranked 15th in FBS and third in the Big Ten in 2014. During the 2013 season, he led the Big Ten and ranked seventh nationally in punt return average (15.8), a mark that ranked third in a season in school history.
The Hornung Award, which has been presented since 2010, is named after former Notre Dame and Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Paul Hornung. Last year's Hornung Award winner was Washington's Shaq Thompson.
