Tyler, Texas----- For San Jose State University, it is rare a player with roots to the state of Texas finds his way to the Spartan football team.
Quarterback Nick Starkel, bucked the trend, last December when he decided to transfer from the University of Arkansas to San Jose State, pursue a master's degree in justice studies and compete for the vacant starting job after incumbent Josh Love, the 2019 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, completed his eligibility.
For Starkel, a Liberty Christian High graduate in Argyle, Texas, just outside of Fort Worth, the decision to return to California was the right one. Despite going to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a straight-A student.
On the playing field, he earned the starting quarterback job for the San Jose State team with a 2-0 record.
And, now he can add to his 2020 "California Dreamin'" experience the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player Of The Week honor for his contributions to the Spartans' 38-21 win over the University of New Mexico in a Mountain West game on October 31.
Starkel completed 34-of-47 passes without an interception for 467 yards and a personal single-game best five touchdowns. Three of those touchdown passes came on third-down situations from 37, 43 and 26 yards away. There was a fourth-down, 1-yard dink for the final score of the game. The only non-third or non-fourth down six-pointer was a 69-yard strike giving San Jose State a 31-21 lead on the final play of the third quarter.
The former Texas A&M and Arkansas signal caller during the 2017 through 2019 seasons is the first San Jose State player to be named an Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week.
Since 2012, the award recognizes the top offensive player in Division. I football who define the award's namesake – integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity. Award winners also must be a Texas native, graduated from a Texas-based high school, and/or played football for a four-year NCAA Division I college or university.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week is the latest weekly honor for Starkel, who lived in San Francisco's Presidio military neighborhood for three years. Earlier in the week, he was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, a Manning Award Star of the Week, and a Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 quarterback for games played the weekend ending October 31.
San Jose State takes its unbeaten record for 2020 to Southern California for a Friday, November 6 conference showdown against San Diego State (2-0, 2-0 Mountain West). Game time is 6:00 p.m. with the CBS Sports Network providing national television coverage.