Tulsa’s Zach Smith Named Semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Year Award
12/17/2020 11:30:00 AM | Football
TYLER, Texas–– The University of Tulsa quarterback Zach Smith was named one of 13 semifinalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Year Award, it was announced today by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler.
The award recognizes those football student-athletes meeting one of the following criteria: born in Texas and /or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college of four-year Division I Texas college.
Smith, from Grandview, Texas, has helped lead Tulsa to the American Athletic Conference Championship Game this week against the No. 6-ranekd Cincinnati Bearcats with a 6-0 league mark, while posting an overall 6-1 record.
The 6'3" senior has thrown for 1,434 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games this season. Smith has led Tulsa to three comeback victories, coming against #11 UCF, East Carolina and #19 SMU.
Against SMU, Smith completed 26-of-38 passes for season-highs of 325 yards and three touchdowns. In the final three quarters, he completed 20-of-28 passes for 269 yards and all three of his TD passes and zero interceptions. Smith led Tulsa on a game-winning drive by taking the Golden Hurricane 65 yards in 7 plays. He threw a 4-yard pass to tight end James Palmer with 2:11 left in the contest for the touchdown.
After trailing 23-5 against UCF in the second quarter, Smith led the Hurricane to five scoring drives and 29 points for a 34-26 victory over the 11th-ranked Knights. In the ECU game, he guided Tulsa to two scoring drives in the final 10 minutes, including the game-winning touchdown score with 0:29 remaining in the game.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which began in 2012 and is sponsored by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler.
Named after 1977 Heisman Trophy-winning running back Earl Campbell, the award recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity; specifically tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.
Players Mentioned
Tight End
/ Football
Quarterback
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