Smith Snowden has just snagged the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week following a display of sheer athletic prowess, quite literally playing his heart out on both sides of the ball during Utah's trouncing of UCLA with a 43-10 scoreboard. If there ever was a question about Snowden's ability to quickly adapt and shine in any position, let that be laid to rest. And yes, the Utes are now banging on the doors of their opposition, loudly.
Accomplishing what most college players only dream of, Snowden was everywhere during Saturday's game, on offense, defense, and special teams. According to UtahUtes.com, he played 22 snaps on defense, 22 on offense, and even took to swiftly play 3 snaps on special teams. Snowden's eight-yard rush for a touchdown boosted the Utes' morale early in the game, and his six receptions for 51 yards underscored his offensive clout.
Snowden, a name now resounding beyond Lehi, his hometown, clocked in team-high receptions and yards on Saturday. As if that wasn't enough, he made his presence felt as a starting cornerback and notched up one tackle to round off his performance. You'd almost think there were three of him on the field.
The Paul Hornung Award, courtesy of Texas Roadhouse and established in 2010, honors the nation's most versatile player in college football, a nod to the legendary all-rounder Paul Hornung himself. And this week, Snowden has proven to be absolutely worthy of the title. The Utes are now set to take on Cal Poly at home. You can almost certainly expect Snowden to once again be a central figure in that game, which airs on ESPN+ at 4 p.m. on Saturday, according to UtahUtes.com.
