Alabama junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has been named to the 2017 Paul Hornung Award Watch List announced today by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Fitzpatrick is among 46 players from around the country named to the preseason list. The watch list is the sixth for Fitzpatrick this preseason. He has also been named to lists for the Maxwell, Bednarik and Thorpe awards and the Lott IMPACT and Nagurski trophies. In addition to the watch list honors, Fitzpatrick is also a nominee for the American Football Coaches Association’s Good Works Team.

The leader of the Crimson Tide secondary, Fitzpatrick made the move to safety midway through the season in 2016 and will once again direct the Tide secondary in 2017. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns during his career to set the Alabama all-time mark for pick-sixes. The Old Bridge, N.J., native was a first team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Pro Football Focus in 2016 and earned second-team honors from Walter Camp and The Sporting News. He led the team in interceptions (6) and interception return yards (186) as a sophomore and his 186 return yards ranked near the top nationally while his six picks tied for seventh in the FBS.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville (Ky.) Sports Commission, and football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award Banquet in Louisville on March 8, 2018.

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