LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The preseason honors continue to roll in for Texas State's Ismail Mahdi. On Thursday, he was named to the 2024 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse watch list.
 
The Paul Hornung Award is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football. The award was created by the LSC in January 2010 with the support of the Golden Boy himself, Paul Hornung, a native and lifelong resident of Louisville and member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
 
Already this preseason Mahdi has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List and was an All-Sun Belt Conference First Team preseason selection at both running back and all-purpose back. He has also been recognized on the College Football News All-Sun Belt and Dave Campbell's All-Texas College preseason first teams.
 
The Murphy, Texas native totaled 2,169 all-purpose yards last year in his first season in San Marcos. He ran for the 12 most yards in the nation at 1,331 yards, added 563 on kick returns and 275 receiving yards. Mahdi scored 12 touchdowns with 10 coming on the ground.
 
His performance on the field saw him be named to six All-American teams with first team accolades as an all-purpose player by CBS Sports/247Sports. The FWAA, ESPN, The Athletic and Phil Steele all picked him to their second teams as an all-purpose player, too.
 
Mahdi and the Bobcats open the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Lamar in the first of seven homes games this year at UFCU Stadium.
 
Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2024 Texas State football season are on sale now at TXST.com/tickets.