South Florida Football’s Isaac Named to Hornung Award Watch List
August 10, 2026 | Football
TAMPA, FLA. (AUG. 10, 2026) – South Florida junior running back Alvon Isaac has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse. Isaac is the third Bull named to a preseason watch list for a national award.
The Paul Hornung Award is presented each year to the most versatile player in major college football. The Louisville Sports Commission created the prize in 2010. It honors the legacy of Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Hornung.
Isaac is South Florida's top returning rusher from the 2026 season, having posted 350 yards on 73 carries. He also caught 14 passes for 141 yards and led the team in punt returns (6 for 126 yards, 21.0 ypr) and kickoff returns (10 for 224 yards, 22.4 ypr).
South Florida opened practice for the 2026 season on Aug. 5. Under first-year head coach Brian Hartline, the Bulls return four starters from a team that went 9-4 last season and welcome 62 new players. South Florida opens its 30th season of football, and its last in Raymond James Stadium before moving to a new on-campus stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. FIU in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2026 NATIONAL AWARD WATCH LIST MEMBERS
Outland Trophy Caleb Cook, Graduate, Guard
Lou Groza Award Nico Gramatica, Junior, Kicker
Paul Hornung Award Alvon Isaac, Junior, Running Back/Returner
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For the latest updates from South Florida Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow South Florida Football on social media Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube.
Get Your Tickets Today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the South Florida Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.
About South Florida Football
The South Florida football program first took the field in 1997 and will play its 30th season in 2026.
In 2025, the Bulls went 9-4, earned a third straight bowl appearance, made the program's first College Football Playoff ranking appearance, and were ranked four times in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 poll. South Florida completed construction on a new $22-million Indoor Performance Facility in 2023, and construction is in progress on $349-million on-campus stadium and football operations center broke slated for completion by 2027.
The Bulls have posted 18 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections (including two consensus selections, the last coming in 2021), and 35 first-team all-conference honorees. South Florida has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, while the Bulls have made 13 bowl game appearances (going 8-5), tied for the third-most nationally in the first 25 seasons of a program's bowl eligibility. South Florida posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016, while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. The Bulls spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns and reached as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings during the 2007 season.
The Paul Hornung Award is presented each year to the most versatile player in major college football. The Louisville Sports Commission created the prize in 2010. It honors the legacy of Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Hornung.
Isaac is South Florida's top returning rusher from the 2026 season, having posted 350 yards on 73 carries. He also caught 14 passes for 141 yards and led the team in punt returns (6 for 126 yards, 21.0 ypr) and kickoff returns (10 for 224 yards, 22.4 ypr).
South Florida opened practice for the 2026 season on Aug. 5. Under first-year head coach Brian Hartline, the Bulls return four starters from a team that went 9-4 last season and welcome 62 new players. South Florida opens its 30th season of football, and its last in Raymond James Stadium before moving to a new on-campus stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. FIU in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
SOUTH FLORIDA 2026 NATIONAL AWARD WATCH LIST MEMBERS
Outland Trophy Caleb Cook, Graduate, Guard
Lou Groza Award Nico Gramatica, Junior, Kicker
Paul Hornung Award Alvon Isaac, Junior, Running Back/Returner
Follow us:
For the latest updates from South Florida Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow South Florida Football on social media Facebook, Instagram, X, and Youtube.
Get Your Tickets Today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the South Florida Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.
About South Florida Football
The South Florida football program first took the field in 1997 and will play its 30th season in 2026.
In 2025, the Bulls went 9-4, earned a third straight bowl appearance, made the program's first College Football Playoff ranking appearance, and were ranked four times in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 poll. South Florida completed construction on a new $22-million Indoor Performance Facility in 2023, and construction is in progress on $349-million on-campus stadium and football operations center broke slated for completion by 2027.
The Bulls have posted 18 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections (including two consensus selections, the last coming in 2021), and 35 first-team all-conference honorees. South Florida has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, while the Bulls have made 13 bowl game appearances (going 8-5), tied for the third-most nationally in the first 25 seasons of a program's bowl eligibility. South Florida posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016, while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. The Bulls spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns and reached as high as No. 2 in the AP rankings during the 2007 season.
– #GoBulls –
Players Mentioned
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