Texas Tech University Athletics
Wesley Named Semifinalist for Earl Campbell Award
November 16, 2018 | Football
Antoine Wesley enters Saturday’s contest at K-State with four-straight games of at least 100 yards
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech junior wide receiver Antoine Wesley was recognized as an awards semifinalist for the second time this week Friday as he was named one of 13 candidates for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
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Wesley, who is also a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver regardless of position), is one of four wide receivers remaining for the Earl Campbell Award as he is joined by Hakeem Butler (Iowa State), Lil'Jordan Humphrey (Texas) and Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State). Â
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The semifinalists list also includes Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin, Purdue quarterback David Blough, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, North Texas quarterback Mason Fine, Houston quarterback D'Eriq King, Ole Miss offensive lineman Greg Little, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger and Texas A&M running back Trayveon Williams.
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Five finalists for the award will be announced Dec. 5 following a vote of the Earl Campbell Award selection committee. Wesley, the nation's leader in receiving yards per game (134.7), is looking to become the third Red Raider to be named a finalist since the award's founding in 2013, joining Jace Amaro (2013) and Patrick Mahomes II (2016).
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Wesley has torched opposing defenses through the air this season as he has recorded 1,347 receiving yards through 10 games, which ranks second nationally only to Massachusetts wide receiver Andy Isabella, who has played in 11 games to this point. He also ranks ninth nationally in receiving touchdowns (9) and 15th in all-purpose yards per game (134.5).
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The Las Vegas native has notched at least 100 receiving yards in each of Tech's last four games, all but one of which came against an opponent currently ranked in the College Football Playoff poll (No. 22 Iowa State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 19 Texas). He has reached the 100-yard mark in six games altogether, which is one shy of the national lead.
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Wesley is coming off a 171-yard performance this past Saturday against Texas, his second-straight game with at least 150 receiving yards. Wesley added 199 receiving yards the week before in a narrow loss to Oklahoma as he is one of three receivers nationally and the lone player from a power-five conference to record 150 receiving yards in four games this season.
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His top performance of the season came earlier in the season when he snapped the Tech single-game record with 255 yards against Houston. He broke the previous mark of 255 yards that was set by Joel Filani against Kansas State in 2005.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in the FBS who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically tenacity in persistent and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.
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In addition, the nominee must meet one of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduates from a Texas high school and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or a four-year Division-I Texas university.
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Wesley and the Red Raiders will look to secure bowl eligibility this Saturday when Tech heads to the Little Apple to face Kansas State in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Memorial Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on ESPNU and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
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Wesley, who is also a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver regardless of position), is one of four wide receivers remaining for the Earl Campbell Award as he is joined by Hakeem Butler (Iowa State), Lil'Jordan Humphrey (Texas) and Tylan Wallace (Oklahoma State). Â
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The semifinalists list also includes Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin, Purdue quarterback David Blough, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, North Texas quarterback Mason Fine, Houston quarterback D'Eriq King, Ole Miss offensive lineman Greg Little, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger and Texas A&M running back Trayveon Williams.
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Five finalists for the award will be announced Dec. 5 following a vote of the Earl Campbell Award selection committee. Wesley, the nation's leader in receiving yards per game (134.7), is looking to become the third Red Raider to be named a finalist since the award's founding in 2013, joining Jace Amaro (2013) and Patrick Mahomes II (2016).
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Wesley has torched opposing defenses through the air this season as he has recorded 1,347 receiving yards through 10 games, which ranks second nationally only to Massachusetts wide receiver Andy Isabella, who has played in 11 games to this point. He also ranks ninth nationally in receiving touchdowns (9) and 15th in all-purpose yards per game (134.5).
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The Las Vegas native has notched at least 100 receiving yards in each of Tech's last four games, all but one of which came against an opponent currently ranked in the College Football Playoff poll (No. 22 Iowa State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 19 Texas). He has reached the 100-yard mark in six games altogether, which is one shy of the national lead.
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Wesley is coming off a 171-yard performance this past Saturday against Texas, his second-straight game with at least 150 receiving yards. Wesley added 199 receiving yards the week before in a narrow loss to Oklahoma as he is one of three receivers nationally and the lone player from a power-five conference to record 150 receiving yards in four games this season.
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His top performance of the season came earlier in the season when he snapped the Tech single-game record with 255 yards against Houston. He broke the previous mark of 255 yards that was set by Joel Filani against Kansas State in 2005.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes the top offensive player in the FBS who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically tenacity in persistent and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.
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In addition, the nominee must meet one of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduates from a Texas high school and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or a four-year Division-I Texas university.
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Wesley and the Red Raiders will look to secure bowl eligibility this Saturday when Tech heads to the Little Apple to face Kansas State in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Memorial Stadium. Coverage will be provided nationally on ESPNU and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
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No one does it better than @antoine_wesley.
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 16, 2018
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