Hoosier All-Purpose wide receiver Makai Jackson Named to Preseason Hornung Watch List

Indiana wide receiver and kick returner Makai Jackson was one of forty-six players representing schools in ­­­­nine conferences that compete for the Football Bowl Series have been selected for the 2025 Paul Hornung Award Pre-Season Watch List.

The award goes to college football’s most versatile player in the country yearly.

Makai Jackson spent his freshman season at Saint Francis University, then transferred to Appalachian State where he played the last two seasons.

In 2024, he started 11 games for the Mountaineers. Jackson caught 46 passes for 745 yards, five touchdowns and was also named third-team All-Sun Belt. In 2023 he had 418 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2023. He closed out the season with back-to-back 100-yard performances against James Madison and Georgia Southern.

Last seasons winner was Jacksonville Jaguars top pick, Travis Hunter, won the Hornung Award each of the past two seasons. The former two-way Colorado star who is expected to play both offense and defense in the NFL, is along side former winners like: Saquon Berkley, Christian McCaffrey, DeVonta Smith and Odell Beckham Jr. who previously won the award.

The Paul Hornung Award named after the Notre Dame All-American and Heisman Trophy winner who played the halfback, quarterback and kicker positions during his college career.

This year's Paul Hornung Award winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner in March 2026 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. The 2025 watch list was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2025 season. Throughout the regular season, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances meet the Award's criteria.