Bowman, Thompson Placed on Earl Campbell Award Watch List

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech sophomore quarterback Alan Bowman and sophomore running back SaRodorick Thompson were tabbed Wednesday to the watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which is presented annually to the top offensive player in Division I football with ties to the state of Texas.

For Bowman, this is his third preseason watch list this summer as he was also named to the Davey O'Brien Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch lists. The Grapevine, Texas, native is one of four Big 12 quarterbacks on the Earl Campbell list, joining Charlie Brewer (Baylor), Jarret Doege (West Virginia) and Sam Ehlinger (Texas).

It's the second preseason watch list for Thompson, who was also selected to the prestigious Doak Walker Award watch list in July. The Irving, Texas, native is one of two Big 12 running backs on the Earl Campbell list, joining Kene Nwangwu (Iowa State).

Overall, Texas Tech is one of two Big 12 schools with multiple players on the watch list and one of four overall. Tech is the only program with both a quarterback and running back on the list.

Bowman will look to return to form this fall after missing the final nine games of the 2019 campaign following a shoulder injury. He was able to return to practice late in November but sat out the final three games in order to maintain his redshirt season. He had completed 101-of-154 passes (65.6) for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns up until his injury against Arizona.

The Grapevine, Texas native earned the starting job after an impressive true freshman season in 2018 where he finished just shy of setting the Red Raider freshman record for passing yards. He completed 69.4 percent of his passes over eight games and seven starts that season, finishing with 2,638 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Thompson, meanwhile, led the Red Raiders in rushing as a redshirt freshman in 2019 as he compiled 765 yards on the ground after redshirting the 2018 campaign. He became the eighth Red Raider to lead the team in rushing as a freshman and just the second since 2002.

Thompson found the end zone 12 times on the ground and added 39 catches for 154 yards through the air while playing in all 12 games and making seven starts. He carried the bulk of the load during Big 12 play as injuries plagued the running back room and went on to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades by the conference coaches.

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.

In addition the nominee must meet one of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas high school and/or played as a Texas-based junior college or a four-year Division I Texas university.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award will trim its watch list 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. A winner will be announced at the end of the football season.

Bowman, Thompson Placed on Earl Campbell Award Watch List

Players Mentioned

Alan Bowman

SaRodorick Thompson Jr.

Texas Tech University Athletics