UCLA running back Wayne Knight a Paul Hornung Award finalist

The outstanding season for Wayne Knight keeps rolling along. Prior to the Week 11 game between Illinois and the No. 4 UCLA Bruins Friday night, Knight was named as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award.

It’s the second-straight season that Knight has been named a finalist for the award, which is given to the most versatile FBS college football player. Last year the award was won by Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion.

Knight has been a spark plug for the UCLA offense, totaling 789 rushing yards and 155 receiving yards with 15 total touchdowns through his first nine games of the season. Not only does Knight lead UCLA in rushing, he ranks fourth on the Bruins in receiving yards.

The James Madison transfer also leaves the team in kickoff return yardage with 181. Ever since Knight crossed paths with Bob Chesney he has transformed from a special teams player to one of the most dangerous players in the entire country.

Last season Knight was named a Second Team All-American berth and set a new program record for total yardage for James Madison, totaling 2,039 combined yards. Knight has been just as dynamic in the Big Ten, putting up similar levels of productivity in a tougher conference.

Knight is joined by six other finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, alongside Devon Dampier (Utah), Aiden Flora (Iowa State), Easton Messer (FAU), Dylan Riley (Boise State), Malachi Toney (Miami [FL]) and J’Koby Williams (Texas Tech). Even if Knight falls short of the award for the second-straight year, being a two-time finalist is still quite impressive in its own right.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA running back Wayne Knight a Paul Hornung Award finalist