Another day and another award list with five from the ACC making the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose semifinalist list. The award, named after the former Texas Longhorns great running back from Tyler, Texas, goes to the offensive player of the year. It is presented by SPORTyler, a local non-profit in Tyler.
There have been 16 semi-finalists named for the 2024 award. There are 10 quarterbacks, three running backs, 2 receivers, and one tight end.
Kevin Jennings
The SMU quarterback has led the Mustangs to a trip to the ACC conference championship game in their first year in the conference. He took over as starting quarterback in week four of the season, and SMU is undefeated ever since.
Jennings has completed 67% of his passes for more than 2,500 yards this season with 17 throwing touchdowns. He has another 315 yards rushing to go with four touchdowns on the ground. In the win over Virginia, which clinched SMU’s spot in the conference title game, he completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8%) for 323 yards and two touchdowns.
Cade Klubnik
The junior quarterback for Clemson needs only 80 yards passing in the regular season finale against South Carolina to complete the best statistical year of this three-year career.
He is completing 63.9% of his passes for 2,761 yards and 29 touchdowns. Clemson is already bowl-eligible, and with the three wins in a row they currently have, the Tigers are keeping alive hopes for the College Football Playoffs.
Haynes King
The Georgia Tech quarterback is one of the more dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. He has only thrown for 1,607 yards but has done so at a 72.5% completion rate. He also has 468 rushing yards to go with 17 total touchdowns (nine passing and eight rushing).
The Yellow Jackets are 7-4 overall, including a huge upset win over Miami last month. They are 5-3 in the ACC, tied for fourth place.
Cam Ward
The Miami quarterback has the Hurricanes in the top 10 in the country, in the College Football Playoff hunt and in place to play for the ACC championship if they beat Syracuse this weekend.
Ward is in the top three in the nation in nearly every passing or offensive category. He leads the country in passing touchdowns with 34 and is second in passing yards with 3,946. He is expected to be a Heisman finalist this year. Ward is also on the semifinalist or finalist list for several other awards.
Brashard Smith
The SMU running back is the only non-quarterback from the ACC on the list. He has rushed for 1,089 yards and is averaging 99 yards per game. He also has 26 touchdowns for the Mustangs as they make a run to the ACC championship in their first year in the conference.
Smith has spent his entire career in the ACC, having played at Miami for three years before transferring to SMU for this season.
There is a fan vote element for this award that ends on December 15th. The finalists for the Earl Campbell Award will be announced on December 17th. The winner will be announced at the event’s banquet on January 22, 2025. The entire semifinalist list can be seen here.
