No. 3 Texas' Quinn Ewers, Gunnar Helm recognized as Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award semifinalists

Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers and senior tight end Gunnar Helm were named semifinalists for the 2024 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler announced Wednesday.

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Last season, Texas running back Jonathan Brooks was recognized as a finalist for the award while running back Bijan Robinson was also named a finalist for the honor in 2022. Running back D’Onta Foreman took home the award in 2016.

The award, which is named after 1977 Heisman Trophy winner and Longhorn Legend Earl Campbell, is given annually to the top offensive player in the FBS who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Campbell – integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity. In addition, it is limited to players who were born in the state of Texas, attended a high school in Texas or attended a Texas junior college or university.

Ewers is a third-year player who has played in and started 31 games on the Forty Acres, leading UT to 24 wins. In nine starts in 2024, Ewers has completed 189-of-278 passes (68 percent) for 2,089 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 232.1 passing yards per game.

Ewers was also named a 2024 semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, 88th Maxwell Award Collegiate Player of the Year and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback awards. In addition, Ewers was tabbed a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 Finalist on Oct. 31 and was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award QB Class of 2024. Ewers has earned a plethora of weekly honors this season, including SEC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9), Manning Award Star of the Week (Sept. 9), Reese’s Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9), Davey O’Brien Great 8 (Sept. 9), Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week (Sept. 10), Maxwell Award Player of the Week (Sept. 10), Davey O’Brien Great 8 (Nov. 11), East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback (Nov. 11) and Manning Award Star of the Week (Nov. 11).

Prior to the season, Ewers was named to preseason watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, Walter Camp Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award, Manning Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award along with being named preseason second-team All-SEC by the media and league’s coaches. Ewers headlines a Texas offense that ranks 12th nationally in team passing efficiency (160.71), 13th in completion percentage (0.676), 15th in scoring offense (36.5 ppg), 17th in passing offense (279.7), and 18th in total offense (44.94 ypg). Ewers also sits amongst the nation’s best in several individual statistical categories, including 13th in passing TDs (23), 14th in points responsible for per game (16.2), 15th in completion percentage (0.680) and 19th in passing efficiency (154.1). The Texas offense has rushed for 100-or-more yards in 10 of 11 games this season and has surpassed 200 rushing yards three times after doing so against ULM, Florida and Kentucky.

Ewers extended his passing touchdown streak to 22-consecutive games in Texas’ 31-14 win vs. Kentucky on Nov. 23. In the victory, Ewers finished 20-of-31 for 191 yards and two touchdowns. His passing touchdown streak is the second-longest in program history, trailing Colt McCoy’s record of 29-straight games with a passing touchdown. Ewers’ 22-consecutive games with a passing touchdown also ties with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders for the longest active streak in the FBS. Against the Wildcats, Ewers’ two passing touchdowns ties him for third in the program’s career passing touchdown list with Major Applewhite (60). Ewers also sits fourth in the program’s record book in career passing yards with 7,745. In the 49-17 win against Florida on Nov. 9, Ewers completed 19-of-27 (70.4 percent) passes for 333 yards and a career-high five touchdowns through 2.5 quarters of play. Ewers is the fourth SEC quarterback since 1996 with five touchdown passes of 20+ yards in a conference game, joining Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (Sept. 28, 2019), Georgia’s Joe Cox (Sept. 19, 2009) and Kentucky’s Jared Lorenzen (Nov. 10, 2001). Ewers’ five touchdown passes against Florida tied for the third-most in single-game program history, one behind the program-record of six set by Colt McCoy (Baylor, 2006) and Casey Thompson (Kansas, 2021). Ewers has now been credited with multiple passing touchdowns in eight of his nine starts this season. Ewers has passed for three or more touchdowns four times this season and has 19 career games with multiple passing touchdowns.

The ever-reliable Helm, a native of Englewood, Colo., was previously named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award. In 11 starts this season, Helm paces UT in both receptions (42) and receiving yards (544) this season. Helm has also hauled in the second-most touchdown passes this season by a Longhorn (5).

He finished with five receptions for 51 yards and a career-high two touchdowns in the 31-14 win vs. Kentucky on Nov. 23. Helm joined Ja’Tavion Sanders (2 vs. WVU on Oct. 1; 2 vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 8) as the only Texas tight ends over the last 12 seasons to have a game with multiple receiving touchdowns in a game after Sanders accomplished the feat during the 2022 season. Helm’s 17-yard touchdown against Kentucky in the second quarter was his fifth receiving touchdown on the season, which is tied for the third most by a tight end in a single season in program history. In the win vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 12, Helm led the team with five receptions for 91 yards (18.2 ypc) with a touchdown. He registered his fourth career touchdown reception and the second of the season after he caught a seven-yard pass from QB Quinn Ewers in the second quarter. Helm had a career day in Texas’ 31-12 win at No. 10/9 Michigan on Sept. 7.

Against the Wolverines, set career highs in both receptions with a team-best seven and receiving yards with a team-high 98 (14 ypc). Helm tallied 45 yards after catch as well vs. Michigan. As a team, Michigan only compiled 51 yards after catch against Texas. Three of his receptions also went for 20+ yards.

Finalists for the 2024 award will be selected and announced on Dec. 17. The winner will be announced at an award banquet in Tyler, Texas, on Jan. 22, 2025.

This week, Texas closes out the regular season on the road at No. 20/19/20 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 30, at Kyle Field. ESPN’s College GameDay will be airing live from the Texas A&M campus from 8-11 a.m. Saturday hosted by Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and other ESPN personalities.

(via Texas release)