NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback Ken Seals has been placed on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.
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 – the 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: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.
Seals started all of Vandy’s nine games in 2020 and became the SEC’s third true freshman quarterback to start a season opener since 1972. He finished the year completing 186 of 288 passes (64.6 percent) for a Vanderbilt rookie-record 1,928 yards.
The Azle, Texas, native tied for third in Vanderbilt history for 300-yard passing games in a single season with three and led the Commodores with 1,876 yards of total offense.
Among the SEC’s freshmen, Seals stood third in passing yards per game, third in total offense and fifth in pass efficiency (127.6). Within the league as a whole, Seals ranked tied for sixth in passing touchdowns, eighth in completions, eighth in pass attempts, eighth in yards of total offense, ninth in passing yards, ninth in passing yards/game, ninth in completion percentage, ninth in yards of total offense/game (208.4), ninth in total offensive plays (329) and tied for 10th in total offensive touchdowns (12).
Nationally, Seals was one of two true freshmen nationally who completed at least 60 percent of his passes and threw for more than 1,000 yards.
Campbell graduated from John Tyler High School in Tyler before joining the University of Texas under head coach Darrell Royal. In Campbell’s senior year he led the nation with 1,744 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. That year he captured the Longhorns’ first Heisman Trophy.
He was drafted by the Houston Oilers and won Rookie of the Year honors in 1978. He led the NFL in rushing three times and was named the league’s most valuable player in 1979. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list will be narrowed to up to 16 semifinalists in November and then up to five finalists in December. They will be selected by broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans and previous winners. The finalists will be brought to Tyler, Texas, for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet scheduled for January 12, 2022.
The Commodores are set to kick off the 2021 season by hosting East Tennessee State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4. Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets are available through the Vanderbilt ticket office.
