ORLANDO – The ninth annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List was announced on Thursday at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler 15th Annual East Texas Kick-off Luncheon, and UCF's Jaylon Robinson was among those honored.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.
Robinson, UCF's top returning receiver for the 2021 season, hails from Fort Worth, Texas.
The Watch List will be narrowed to up to 16 semifinalists in November and then up to five finalists in December. They will be selected by broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans, and previous winners. The finalists will be brought to Tyler for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet scheduled for January 12, 2022.
A player does not have to appear on the initial Watch List to be eligible to win the award. The Watch List is made up of players nominated from their respective schools.
THE EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award was announced in 2012 by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler. Earl Campbell graduated from John Tyler High School in Tyler before joining the Texas Longhorns under legendary Coach Darrell K. Royal. In his senior year, he led the nation with 1,744 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, going on to win the Longhorns' first Heisman Trophy. He was subsequently drafted by the Houston Oilers where he won Rookie of the Year honors in 1978 and went on to lead the NFL in rushing 3 times. Campbell earned NFL MVP in 1979 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He now resides in Austin.
Knights on Preseason Watch Lists
- July 19: Dillon Gabriel, Maxwell Award
- July 20: Dillon Gabriel, Davey O'Brien Award
- July 22: Jaylon Robinson, Biletnikoff Award
- July 27: Cole Schneider, Outland Trophy
- July 30: Dillon Gabriel, Walter Camp Award
- July 30: Andrew Osteen, Ray Guy Award
- August 5: Dillon Gabriel, Manning Award
- August 5: Jaylon Robinson, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Robinson and the Knights completed their second day of preseason camp on Thursday, and will begin the 2021 season on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Boise State at the Bounce House.