Texas State RB Ismail Mahdi named to Paul Hornung Award watch list The Paul Hornung to the most versatile player in college football
Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi (21) leaves Rice safety Gabriel Taylor (26) behind during the first half of the First Responder Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (LM Otero, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The 2023-2024 season for Texas State University running back Ismail Mahdi was remarkable, to say the least. Talling up 2,169 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns on the way to being named to six different All-American teams.
Mahdi’s upcoming second season with the Bobcats is already getting the attention of national watch lists.
Not only was Mahdi named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list, which is given yearly to the most versatile player in college football, but he was also on the Maxwell Award watch list and the preseason first team for the Sun Belt Conference.
The Bobcats will open the season with most likely a heavy running attack from Mahdi on Aug. 31, when Texas State hosts Lamar University at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
About the Author Nick Mantas headshot
Nick Mantas is an award-winning sports reporter who joined the KPRC 2 Sports Team in September of 2025, coming from channel 2's sister station, KSAT in San Antonio. Before reporting on the San Antonio Spurs for two years, he spent three years in Lansing, Michigan, and one year in Abilene, Texas. He's Greek & a native of Brookline, Massachusetts.
What's happening on KSAT Sports Now this week! ▶ 0:43
What's happening on KSAT Sports Now this week!
South Texas man sets world record for oldest wingsuit jumper ▶ 1:59
South Texas man sets world record for oldest wingsuit jumper
Hill Country flood survivors face new needs as cold weather drives demand for winter essentials ▶ 1:16
Hill Country flood survivors face new needs as cold weather drives demand for winter essentials
San Antonio mom gets holiday homecoming surprise from active-duty military sons ▶ 1:12
San Antonio mom gets holiday homecoming surprise from active-duty military sons
Spurs fans honk horns downtown after win vs. Thunder in NBA Cup semifinals ▶ 0:15
Spurs fans honk horns downtown after win vs. Thunder in NBA Cup semifinals
Residents upset with speeding and lack of crosswalks at West Side intersection ▶ 1:03
Residents upset with speeding and lack of crosswalks at West Side intersection
Abraham Quintanilla, father of music icon Selena, has died, family says ▶ 1:08
Abraham Quintanilla, father of music icon Selena, has died, family says
San Antonio family navigates life separated amid $30K immigration battle ▶ 2:10
San Antonio family navigates life separated amid $30K immigration battle
Skydiver dangles at 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane's tail ▶ 0:31
Skydiver dangles at 15,000 feet after parachute catches on plane's tail
San Antonio Catholic faithful embark on traditional journey honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe ▶ 1:01
San Antonio Catholic faithful embark on traditional journey honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
2 dead in shooting at Stone Oak apartment complex, SAPD says ▶ 0:46
2 dead in shooting at Stone Oak apartment complex, SAPD says
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend ▶ 1:47
🦍 Congo Falls gorilla exhibit at San Antonio Zoo to open this weekend
SAPOA will not move forward on a ‘no confidence’ vote against SAPD Chief William McManus ▶ 2:11
SAPOA will not move forward on a ‘no confidence’ vote against SAPD Chief William McManus
From San Antonio to Jamaica: North Side restaurant ships donations for Hurricane Melissa relief ▶ 1:35
From San Antonio to Jamaica: North Side restaurant ships donations for Hurricane Melissa relief
Realtor emphasizes strategic pricing in San Antonio’s cooling real estate market ▶ 1:09
Realtor emphasizes strategic pricing in San Antonio’s cooling real estate market
US credit card debt rising slower before Christmas this year compared to 2024, Fed data shows ▶ 1:36
US credit card debt rising slower before Christmas this year compared to 2024, Fed data shows
Roosevelt Avenue’s deadly reputation pushes community plea for immediate safety improvements ▶ 0:37
Roosevelt Avenue’s deadly reputation pushes community plea for immediate safety improvements
Culebra Road ranks among San Antonio’s most dangerous traffic corridors, data shows ▶ 0:59
Culebra Road ranks among San Antonio’s most dangerous traffic corridors, data shows
‘I was devastated’: Woman who lost everything in apartment fire retains attorney ▶ 1:04
‘I was devastated’: Woman who lost everything in apartment fire retains attorney
San Antonio council members express skepticism, caution while discussing possible elections move ▶ 1:01
San Antonio council members express skepticism, caution while discussing possible elections move
🔥 San Antonio, meet your new obsession. 🔥 ▶ 1:06
🔥 San Antonio, meet your new obsession. 🔥
FIRST. EVER. NATIONALS. 🙌 ▶ 2:01
FIRST. EVER. NATIONALS. 🙌
Coca Cola's Classic Christmas takes over Toyota Field in San Antonio ▶ 0:40
Coca Cola's Classic Christmas takes over Toyota Field in San Antonio
Consumer Reports: Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill ▶ 1:09
Consumer Reports: Instacart’s AI-enabled pricing experiments may be inflating your grocery bill
Harvey E. Najim partners with SA Food Bank for 3 mega food distributions this month ▶ 0:36
Harvey E. Najim partners with SA Food Bank for 3 mega food distributions this month
Previous photo Next photo