ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Navy senior snipe Eli Heidenreich and senior quarterback Blake Horvath have been named to The Pony Express Award Mid-Season Watch List, presented by the Pony Express Huddle Foundation. Navy was the only non-autonomy 4 conference to make the list.
The Pony Express Award honors college football's most outstanding tandem, regardless of position. The Pony Express Award was founded by SMU's legends Craig James and Eric Dickerson. They share a team-first mentality, a lesson learned at SMU that shaped their
approach throughout their successful NFL careers.
"It's uplifting to have a 'we' award in a 'me' era," said James. "The Pony Express Award is presented annually to the most dynamic and selfless tandem in college football. It highlights two players whose combined efforts elevate not only each other, but their entire team.
While performance on the field certainly matters, this recognition is rooted in an unshakable team-first mindset. It's about doing your job at the highest level, not for personal gain, but for the success of the teammate beside you."
Whether it's a QB and WR with undeniable chemistry, two offensive linemen paving the way down the field, or a linebacker-safety combo relentlessly anchoring the defense (or other duo/combinations), the award looks for tandems who embody the spirit of The Pony Express Award.
The final award winners are not necessarily limited to this mid-season watch list, as new candidates continually present themselves as the season continues.
The Pony Express Award winners will be announced in December.
Mid-Season Watch List
Alabama: QB Ty Simpson (153-218 for 1,931 yards and 18 TDs) and WR Ryan Williams (26 catches for 423 yards and 3 TDs), WR Germie Bernard (33 catches for 472 yards and 5 TDs); LB Justin Jefferson (24 solo tackles; 40 total, 1 sack, 1 INT), S Bray Hubbard (22 solo tackles; 31 total, 3 INTs) and DL LT Overton (11 solo tackles, 22 total, 3 sacks).
Arizona St: QB Sam Leavitt (127-204 for 1,358 yards and 9 TDs) and WR Jordyn Tyson (57 catches for 628 yards and 8 TDs).
Duke: DE Wesley Williams (12 solo tackles, 25 total, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and DE Vincent Anthony, Jr. (13 solo tackles, 22 total, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble).
Georgia: LB CJ Allen (32 solo tackles, 56 total, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and LB Raylen Wilson (17 solo tackles, 40 total, 1 sack), DB Ellis Robinson IV (6 solo tackles, 9 total, 2 INTs).
Georgia Tech: QB Haynes King (108-153, 70.6% for 1,176 yards and 4 TDs; rushing: 560 yards, 5.5 yards avg., with 10 TDs), and RB Jamal Haynes (409 yards, 5.0 avg., 3 TDs), RB Malachi Hosley (407 yards, 7.5 yards avg., 6 TDs).
Illinois: RB Kaden Feagin (85 carries for 338 yards, 4.0 yards avg, 5 TDs) and RB Ca'Lil Valentine (64 carries for 329 yards, 5.1 yards avg., 3 TDs), RB Aidan Laughery (30 carries for 181 yards, 6.0 yards avg., 3 TDs; 6 catches for 34 yards).
Indiana: QB Fernando Mendoza (133-181, 73.5%, for 21 TDs) and WR Elijah Sarratt (43 catches for 603 yards and 9 TDs); DB D'Angelo Ponds (17 solo tackles, 24 total, 1 INT), S Louis Moore (25 solo tackles, 49 total, 4 INTs), and LB Aiden Fisher (20 solo tackles, 46 total, 2.5 sacks).
Iowa: PK Drew Stevens (T-5th in NCAA for FGs made with 14, long of 55, 3-4 from 50+) and punter Rhys Dakin (19 punts for an average of 45.1 yards, a long of 65 and 8 inside the 20).
Iowa St: RB Carson Hansen (348 yards, 4.4 yards avg. on 79 carries with 2 TDs) and RB Abu Sama III (481 yards, 5.2 yards avg. on 92 carries with 4 TDs).
Louisville: DB D'Angelo Hutchinson (15 solo tackles, 37 total, 1 INT) and LB TJ Quinn (15 solo tackles, 37 total, 1 sack, 2 INTs). DL Clev Lubin (13 solo tackles, 27 total, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble).
Miami: DL Rueben Bain Jr. (13 solo tackles, 27 total, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and DL Akheem Mesidor (15 solo tackles, 28 total, 3.5 sacks).
Navy: QB Blake Horvath (52-81 for 980 yards and 7 TDs; 98 rushes for 640 yards, 6.5 yards avg., for 8 TDs) and Snipe Eli Heidenreich (23 catches for 485 yards and 4 TDs; 35 rushes for 266 yards and 3 TDs). Navy leads the NCAA in rushing with 305.0 per game.
Notre Dame: RB Jeremiyah Love (5th in NCAA with 758 yards, 6.1 yards avg. and 9 TDs) and RB Jadarian Price (509 yards, 6.7 yards avg., and 8 TDs). The tandem has combined for more TDS than Texas or LSU (and tied with Clemson and OU).
Ohio St: QB Julian Sayin (156-195, 80.0%, for 1,872 yards and 19 TDs) and WR Jeremiah Smith (49 catches for 602 yards and 7 TDs) and WR Carnell Tate (34 catches for 587 yards and 6 TDs). Also LB Sonny Styles (23 solo tackles, 40 total, 1 INT) and LB Arvell Reese (23 solo tackles, 42 total, with 5.5 sacks), and DB Caleb Downs (24 solo tackles, 34 total, 1 INT); OSU ranks second in yards allowed with 216.9 per game.
Ole Miss: QB Trinidad Chambliss (104-166, 62.7%, for 1,549 yards and 8 TDs; 70 rushes for 323 yards, 4.6 yards avg., for 5 TDs), RB Kewan Lacy (138 carries for 618 yards, 4.5 yards avg, with 10 TDs), and TE Dae'Quan Wright (19 catches for 393 yards and 3 TDs).
Oregon: QB Dante Moore (136-188, 72.3%, for 1,686 yards and 19 TDs) and WR Dakorien Moore (25 catches for 398 yards and 3 TDs), TE Kenyon Sadiq (21 catches for 305 yards and 5 TDs); LB Bryce Boettcher (18 solo tackles, 57 total, 1 INT) and LB Matayo Uiagalelei (9 solo tackles, 13 total, 4 sacks).
Penn St: RB Nick Singleton (76 carries for 274 yards and 6 TDs) and RB Kaytron Allen (98 carries for 612 yards, 6.2 yards avg., 9 TDs; 13 catches for 95 yards).
Pitt: LB Kyle Louis (21 solo tackles, 41 total, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and LB Rasheem Biles (18 solo tackles, 52 total, 2 sacks, 1 INT).
Texas: DB Michael Taaffe (28 solo tackles, 51 total, 1 sack, 1 INT) and LB Anthony Hill, Jr. (25 solo tackles, 50 total, 1 INT).
Texas A&M: WR Mario Craver (6th in NCAA with 668 yards on 35 catches with 4 TDs) and WR KC Concepcion (500 yards on 33 catches and 6 TDs). QB Marcel Reed (125 completions on 202 passes for 1,770 yards with 15 TDs, also 241 yards rushing with 4 TDs). Also DE Cashius Howell (13 solo tackles, 14 total, 8 sacks) and LB Taurean York (19 solo tackles, 41 total, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery).
TCU: QB Josh Hoover (5th in NCAA passing with 2,124 yards, 21 TDs), WR Eric McAlister (28 catches for 603 yards and 7 TDs), and WR Jordan Dwyer (32 catches for 468 yards and 3 TDs).
Texas Tech: LB Jacob Rodriguez (28 solo tackles, 59 total, 1 sack, 2 INTs), LB David Bailey (14 solo tackles, 22 total, 10.5 sacks), LB Ben Roberts (23 solo tackles, 45 total), NT Lee Hunter (6 solo tackles, 19 total, 1.5 sacks) and LB Romello Height (9 solo tackles, 18 total, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble).
Utah: OT Spencer Fano and OT Caleb Lomu. Utah ranks sixth nationally in rushing with 245.0 per game; the Utes have given up only 6 sacks in 7 games this season.
Vanderbilt: QB Diego Pavia (129-183, 70.5%, for 1,569 yards and 15 TDs; 77 rushes for 438 yards and 4 TDs) and TE Eli Stowers (28 catches for 355 yards and 2 TDs).
