Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics
Cruickshank Named to Paul Hornung Award Watch List
Jul 29 | Football
Preseason All-American posted 936 all-purpose yards in 2020
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football wide receiver/kick returner Aron Cruickshank earned a spot on the Paul Hornung Award watch list released Thursday by the Louisville Sports Commission. The award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, honors the most versatile player in college football.
Previously named to the Athlon Sports (first team), Phil Steele (first team) and Walter Camp (second team) preseason All-America teams, Cruickshank was voted the Big Ten's top return specialist (Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year) in 2020, in addition to taking a spot on both the media and coaches' First Team All-Big Ten lists. Phil Steele selected him honorable mention All-America.
The Brooklyn native sat atop the nation's leaderboard with two kickoff return touchdowns last season, averaging 26.8 yards on 25 kickoff returns, with 671 combined kick returns yards to rank fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten. That included a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Purdue that sparked a 17-0 scoring run to overcome a 10-point deficit and pull ahead for a road victory. It was the fifth 100-yarder in Rutgers history and first kickoff return touchdown of any length since 2016. Then against Nebraska, Cruickshank ripped off a 98-yard kickoff return to put the Scarlet Knights ahead in the third quarter.
Overall, Cruickshank ranked second on the team with 936 all-purpose yards by adding 239 receiving on 37 receptions and 26 rushing. He had three games with seven catches and hauled in his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a fourth down to help tie the game with 27 second remaining and force overtime versus Michigan. Cruickshank enters 2021 with four career kickoff returns for a touchdown.
Semifinalists for the Paul Hornung Award will be announced later in the season. This marks the sixth watch list selection for the Scarlet Knights, with Olakunle Fatukasi earning a spot for the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy, while Bo Melton was picked for the Biletnikoff Award and Adam Korsak merited recognition from the Ray Guy Award for the fourth time.
Under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers matched its program high with three Big Ten victories in 2020. The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. In addition, RU posted a team-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season, a gain of 13.4 points per game from the previous season for the fourth-best improvement nationally. The defense collected 19 takeaways and led the conference with 7.8 tackles-for-loss, while the kick return units were one of four nationally with at least three kick return touchdowns. Academically, Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
Rutgers opens the season Sept. 2 versus Temple at SHI Stadium in a game presented by PNC. Click here for information on season tickets.
Previously named to the Athlon Sports (first team), Phil Steele (first team) and Walter Camp (second team) preseason All-America teams, Cruickshank was voted the Big Ten's top return specialist (Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year) in 2020, in addition to taking a spot on both the media and coaches' First Team All-Big Ten lists. Phil Steele selected him honorable mention All-America.
The Brooklyn native sat atop the nation's leaderboard with two kickoff return touchdowns last season, averaging 26.8 yards on 25 kickoff returns, with 671 combined kick returns yards to rank fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten. That included a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Purdue that sparked a 17-0 scoring run to overcome a 10-point deficit and pull ahead for a road victory. It was the fifth 100-yarder in Rutgers history and first kickoff return touchdown of any length since 2016. Then against Nebraska, Cruickshank ripped off a 98-yard kickoff return to put the Scarlet Knights ahead in the third quarter.
Overall, Cruickshank ranked second on the team with 936 all-purpose yards by adding 239 receiving on 37 receptions and 26 rushing. He had three games with seven catches and hauled in his first collegiate receiving touchdown on a fourth down to help tie the game with 27 second remaining and force overtime versus Michigan. Cruickshank enters 2021 with four career kickoff returns for a touchdown.
Semifinalists for the Paul Hornung Award will be announced later in the season. This marks the sixth watch list selection for the Scarlet Knights, with Olakunle Fatukasi earning a spot for the Bednarik Award, Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy, while Bo Melton was picked for the Biletnikoff Award and Adam Korsak merited recognition from the Ray Guy Award for the fourth time.
Under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers matched its program high with three Big Ten victories in 2020. The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. In addition, RU posted a team-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season, a gain of 13.4 points per game from the previous season for the fourth-best improvement nationally. The defense collected 19 takeaways and led the conference with 7.8 tackles-for-loss, while the kick return units were one of four nationally with at least three kick return touchdowns. Academically, Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
Rutgers opens the season Sept. 2 versus Temple at SHI Stadium in a game presented by PNC. Click here for information on season tickets.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.Makin' House Calls & More in 2021 💎 @Ac_Hollywood_ | #CHOP🪓 pic.twitter.com/7lvAafEMo4
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) July 5, 2021
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