The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s Niblett named to Paul Hornung Award watch list
08.10.2026 | Football
The award is presented annually to the most versatile player in college football.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football senior running back, wide receiver and return specialist Ryan Niblett has been named to the preseason watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Monday. It's the first time Niblett has been named to the preseason watch list for the award.
The award is presented annually to the most versatile player in college football.
Niblett is a 2026 Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-American and Preseason First-Team All-SEC honoree. Niblett has played in 31 career games, including all 13 games last season.
The Houston, Texas, native was a 2025 FWAA First-Team All-American and Coaches' All-SEC Second Team selection. Niblett was also a finalist for 2025 Jet Award, which is given to the nation's top return specialist.
Last season, Niblett led the SEC and ranked second in the FBS in combined kick returns (738) and punt returns (22.7 avg) while ranking second in the SEC and third nationally in punt return touchdowns with two.
Niblett compiled 119 all-purpose yards in Texas' victory over UTEP on Sept. 13, 2025. He returned two kickoffs for 43 yards and three punts for 72 yards, including a then-career long 49-yard punt return. Against Sam Houston on Sept. 20, Niblett accumulated 123 all-purpose yards after returning three punts for 56 yards, including a 49-yard return, to go along with a 22-yard kickoff return. He also hauled in a 39-yard reception and added a six-yard run. Niblett received his first career SEC weekly honor following UT's 26-3 win over No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. Niblett registered the first punt return touchdown of his career with a 75-yard score that put Texas up 20-6 with just under 10 minutes to play in the game. It was one of two touchdowns scored in the game and just the third punt return touchdown by a Longhorn all-time against Oklahoma with the last coming in 2013 by Daje Johnson, and the one prior to that being in 1932 by John Hilliard. Niblett followed up that performance with another big game, this time coming on the road in Texas' 16-13 overtime win vs. Kentucky on Oct. 18. Niblett returned a pair of punts for 88 yards to give Texas possession in plus territory, including a 45-yard punt return to the UK05 in the second quarter and a 43-yard punt return to the UK42 in the third quarter. Texas was able to convert both of his punt returns into six points on two field goals. Niblett had another monumental performance in UT's come-from-behind road win at Mississippi State on Oct. 25. Niblett tallied a career-high 104 punt return yards and added a clutch, 79-yard punt return touchdown with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 38-38 and eventually force overtime where Texas clinched the victory. Niblett returned a kickoff for 59 yards at Georgia on Nov. 15. In Texas' 27-17 Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown win vs. No. 3/3 Texas A&M, Niblett returned two punts for 28 yards and a kickoff for 23 yards. In the Citrus Cheez-It Bowl vs. No. 18/17/18 Michigan, Niblett logged two punt returns for 23 yards, three kickoff returns for 64 yards and made three tackles on special teams.
Texas opens the 2026 season vs. Texas State at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 5, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
