TYLER, Texas — UTSA senior wide receiver Josh Stewart was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list, which was unveiled on Tuesday at the annual East Texas Kickoff Luncheon.
Stewart is one of 45 players selected to the watch list for the award that is presented annually to the nation's outstanding Division I college offensive player who meets one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas; graduated from a Texas high school; or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college. The player also must exhibit the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell, including integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, community and tenacity — specifically tenacity to persist, drive, determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. 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.
An honorable mention All-Conference USA selection in 2016, Stewart set UTSA's single-season record for receiving yards with 682 during his junior campaign. The College Station native recorded the second- and third-longest receptions in program history with a 77-yard catch in the win against Southern Miss and a 75-yard touchdown haul in the road victory at Rice. He led the team with 36 receptions and an 18.9 yards-per-catch average, which ranked 19th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and he hauled in five total scores. Stewart posted a pair of 100-yard receiving games, including a career-high seven catches for 113 yards at Louisiana Tech and 103 yards on just two receptions — both TDs — against Rice.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award was initiated in 2012 by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler.
"We are fortunate to have a celebrity who exhibits the impeccable virtues that define this award," Cindy Smoak, Vice President of SPORTyler, said. "In addition to being a well-known sports figure, Earl also earned a college degree, married his high school sweetheart, raised two successful sons and still supports the community where he grew up."
Earl Campbell graduated from John Tyler High School in Tyler before playing for Texas under legendary head 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 three times. Campbell earned NFL MVP in 1979 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. He now resides in Austin.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Selection Committee will be comprised of Texas-based journalists, college football dignitaries and each of the all-time winners. The committee will narrow the field to up to semifinalists in November and finalists in December. The recipient of the award will be announced in January.
For more information about The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award please click here.
Tweet #BirdsUp
