TYLER, Texas (November 27, 2024) – Washington State quarterback John Mateer was one of 16 quarterbacks named a semifinalist for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, the selection committee announced Wednesday.
 
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, 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. In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria:  played football and graduated from a Texas High School and/or playing at a four-year Division I Texas college.
 
The redshirt-sophomore opened the season setting a school record with six total touchdowns in his first career start, the most by any Cougar quarterback in their first career start. Mateer followed with another school record in the week two win over Texas Tech, setting the top mark for rushing yards by a quarterback with 197 and added two more rushing touchdowns in the win over Washington in Seattle. In the double-overtime win over San Jose State, Mateer became the first player in program history with 300 pass yards and 100 rush yards, recording 501 yards of total offense along the way, the third-best total offense mark in the country this season.
 
In the win over Hawai'i, Mateer rushed for two touchdowns and threw for three more while completing 23-of-27 passes, the fourth-best completion percentage (85.0) in WSU single-game history. In the win at San Diego State, Mateer rushed for two scores and threw for two scores in his third fourth-quarterback comeback win of the season. Mateer threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in the win over Utah State, threw four touchdown passes at New Mexico and totaled four more touchdowns at Oregon State last weekend, two passing and two rushing.
 
The Little Elm, Texas native enters the week leading the country with 42 touchdowns responsible for, fifth nationally with 338.8 yards of total offense and 28 passing touchdowns, sixth with 14.2 yards-per-completion, fourth in the country with 35 runs of 10+ yards and his 52 missed tackles forced are the most by any quarterback in the country this season.
 
The 2024 Semifinalists are:
Jack Bech, WR, TCU, Sr. – Lafayette, La. (St. Thomas More High School) Big 12
Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech, Sr. – Manor, TX (Manor HS) Big 12
Bryson Daily, QB, Army, Sr. – Abernathy, TX (Abernathy HS) American
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas, Jr. – Southlake, TX (Carroll HS) SEC
Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas, Sr. – Englewood, CO (Cherry Creek HS) SEC
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, Jr. – Jacksonville, FL (Lone Star HS, TX) Mountain West
Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU, Soph. – Oak Cliff, TX (South Oak Cliff HS) ACC
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech, R-Jr. – Longview, TX (Longview HS) ACC
Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson, Jr. – Austin, TX (Westlake HS) ACC
John Mateer, QB, Washington State, RS-Soph. – Little Elm, TX (Little Elm HS) Pac-12
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama, RS-Jr. – Katy, TX (Tompkins HS) SEC
Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor, RS-Jr. – Lubbock, TX (Coronado HS) Big 12
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado, Sr. – Dallas, TX (Trinity Christian HS) Big 12
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU Sr-TR – Richmond Heights, FL (Miami Palmetto HS) ACC
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State, RS-Soph. – Allen, TX (Allen HS) Big 12
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami, Sr. – West Columbia, TX (Columbia HS) ACC
 
Finalists will be selected from this group and announced on December 17, 2024.
 
The winner will be announced at an award banquet in Tyler, Texas on January 22, 2025. 
 
For more information about The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award go to www.earlcampbellaward.com or contact Cindy Smoak, SPORTyler, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce: csmoak@tylertexas.com or 903-595-7226.
Get the most up-to-date information by following us on social media at twitter.com/campbellaward or facebook.com/campbellaward.