Marqise Lee named finalist for 2012 Paul Hornung Award

Marqise Lee was named as a finalist for the 2012 Paul Hornung Award, an annual honor given to the most versatile player in college football. Lee was third in the nation in all-purpose yards for 2012, with 2,588.

Lee was one of the bright spots for USC Trojans fans in a disappointing season, making plays receiving, rushing, and returning kicks. He even had more yards in losses than in wins, giving Trojan fans something to watch even when the team was struggling. He led the Pac-12 in yards per kickoff return and receiving yards per game, and his league-leading 112 receptions and 1,680 receiving yards were both Pac-12 records. His reputation as a playmaker is well earned, with his 15 touchdowns coming on plays averaging more than 40 yards each.

Lee's competition for the award comes from Antonio Andrews of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Dri Archer of the Kent State Golden Flashes and Tavon Austin of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Andrews and Austin are the only players in the country with more all-purpose yards than Lee, with 2,997 and 2,760.

The winner of the award will be announced on Jan. 8. Fans can vote online for their selection at VotePaulHornung.com.