LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky wide receiver-turned-quarterback, Lynn Bowden Jr. is the winner of the 2019 Paul Hornung Award. The Hornung Award goes to college football's most versatile player. You don't get much more versatile than changing positions and helping to lead your team to a bowl game.

Bowden who announced Monday he was leaving the University of Kentucky after this season to enter the NFL Draft, took over quarterback duties at UK after injuries forced him to return to a position he hadn't played since high school. As a result of the position switch, Bowden set multiple records at the school. He holds the school record for career and single-season rushing yards by a quarterback. He broke the Southeastern Conference's single-game rushing record for a quarterback and he set the second-highest-single-game rushing total in UK history. Bowden led the Cats to victory in five of his seven starts as a quarterback and has the Cats going to the Belk Bowl on December 31.

The Youngstown, Ohio native was also recently named first-team-All-SEC by The Associated Press and league coaches. Bowden currently leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in all-purpose yardage, averaging 153 yards per game, this number does not include his passing yards as a quarterback. He is one of only three players in the top eight nationally with rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return yards.

Bowden was nominated for the award along with Clyde Edwards-Helaire of LSU, Joe Reed of Virginia and Wan’Dale Robinson of Nebraska.

Bowden will be recognized at the 10th annual Hornung Awards ceremony on March 4, 2020, at the Galt House in Louisville. The award named for Paul Hornung, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Notre Dame and Louisville native. He was the NFL's Most Valuable Player with the Green Bay Packers. He is enshrined in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.