Tyler, TX: And the Winner is…

TCU quarterback captures Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

By Kevin Litwin on June 14, 2023

Hodges

Every January, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler announce the winner of the annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. Max Duggan, the quarterback for Texas Christian University, earned the honors for the 2022 season.

The award is named for Campbell, who was born in Tyler in 1955, became known as a punishing running back at the University of Texas, won the Heisman Trophy in 1977, played for the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints, and was enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1991.

Each January, the award recognizes the top NCAA Division I offensive college football player who also shows characteristics like integrity, drive, sportsmanship, community and tenacity. Another key aspect of the award is that all nominees must have some kind of connection to Texas, whether they attended high school in Texas, went to junior college or college in Texas or were born in Texas.

Duggan led TCU to its first final-four College Football Playoff appearance, with the Horned Frogs defeating Michigan in the semifinal and then advancing to the National Championship against Georgia.

Henry Bell, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce president, says Campbell is an ideal person to have his name on such a prestigious award.

“Earl is an even better person than he was a football player, raising a couple of fine sons who any father would be proud of,” Bell says. “I’ve known Earl for many, many years, and you will never find a finer gentleman.”