Tyler, Texas----- Since its inception in 2012, San Jose State University quarterback Nick Starkel is the first and only Spartan eligible to be nominated for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
The Texas-based college football award named after Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell calls for nominations of players on offense with high school or college ties to the state of Texas. The nominees also would possess integrity, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity which defined Campbell's football career from his high school days through a storied National Football League career.
Named as the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for completing a single-game career high five touchdown passes in a 38-21 win over New Mexico last year, the graduate of Liberty Christian High in Argyle, Texas and Texas A&M University in 2019, was placed on the watch list and eventually was named a semifinalist for the 2020 award.
Starkel finished his first San Jose State season leading the Spartans to a Mountain West championship, the school's first conference football title since 1991. He became the first known first-year player in a San Jose State uniform to be named a season team captain and completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,174 yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games.
Returning for his final year of college football, Starkel starts the 2021 season as one of 53 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award preseason watch list. He is one of 10 quarterbacks listed.
In November, 16 semifinalists will be named and five finalists will be announced in early December after a vote by media members and previous Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winners. The winner will be presented in an awards banquet on January 12, 2022 in Tyler, Texas.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list recognition is the latest in a line of preseason honors for Starkel. Previously, he was named to the Maxwell Club of Philadelphia Player of the Year, the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, the College Football Performance Award National Player of the Year, and the Manning Award watch lists.
Season tickets for the 2021 San Jose State University football six-game home schedule are available by visiting https://am.ticketmaster.com/sjsuathletics/21football or by calling 408-924-7589.