Nixon Tabbed to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch ListNixon Tabbed to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
Conor Kvatek / UCF Athletics

Nixon Tabbed to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

by Aiden Kocol

ORLANDO -  Running back Jaden Nixon has garnered his fourth 2025 preseason honor, securing a spot on the 2025 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, an honor presented annually to the nation’s top offensive player with Texas ties who also exemplifies the enduring characteristics of Hall of Famer Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, community, and, above all, tenacity.

A native of Las Colinas, Texas, and a graduate of Lone Star High School, Nixon meets the award’s Texas-rooted criteria while standing out on the national stage for his prowess and resilience on and off the field. 

In 2024, Nixon earned All-MAC First Team honors after rushing for 921 yards on 143 attempts, adding 77 receiving yards and totaling 12 touchdowns over 13 games. His season featured a career-best 189-yard performance against Bethune-Cookman and a 92-yard run at Kent State, one of the longest plays in the nation last season.

Nixon has had the nation on watch this preseason, having already been named to the Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, and Doak Walker Award watch lists, as well as being named Preseason Big 12 Second Team by Phil Steele.

Finalists for the award will be announced in December, with the winner revealed in January 2026.

About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.