SAN MARCOS, Texas – After registering 316 all-purpose yards and scoring four total touchdowns, Texas State's Ismail Mahdi was named the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week, presented by Texas Roadhouse, for Week 5, the Louisville Sports Commission announced on Tuesday. Mahdi was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll, which annually recognizes the nation's top all-purpose player.
 
Mahdi, in his first year at Texas State after transferring from HCU, became the first Bobcat since Claude Mathis in 1997 to have 300+ all-purpose yards in a single game as he had 138 kick return yards, 89 rushing yards, and 89 receiving yards in the win at Southern Miss. Mahdi returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, making him the first Bobcat since 1959 to do that, while also adding three rushing touchdowns in the first half.
 
Mahdi's four total touchdowns were the most by a Bobcat since 2014 and his 24 points scored were the most by a Sun Belt player this season.
 
A Plano East High School (TX) product, Mahdi is the first Bobcat ever to win the Hornung National Player of the Week honor. He is the first since Jeremiah Haydel in 2020 to be named to the Hornung Award Honor Roll.
 
This season, Mahdi is the nation's leader in all-purpose yards per game (186.8) and yards per rush attempt (9.8). He is also 16th in rushing yards (488) and 18th in rushing yards per game (97.6).
 
He has a team-high 488 rushing yards on 50 attempts and seven rushing touchdowns. He also has 934 all-purpose yards and nine total touchdowns (seven rushing, one receiving, one kick return).
 
In the last two games, Mahdi is averaging 286.0 all-purpose yards and has six total touchdowns.
 
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed. Each week during the regular season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 17 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 18th vote. 
 
Mahdi and the Bobcats return to action with their second conference road game in as many weeks when they play at Louisiana on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm CT on ESPNU.