Cherokee County athletes Devin McCuin and Owen McCown have been named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. Both players are offensive leaders at the University of Texas San Antonio and are among five East Texans recognized on the list, which was released by SPORTyler, Inc.
The accolade is presented each year with support from the city of Tyler, Visit Tyler and the Tyler Chamber of Commerce. The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award honors the top offensive player in Division I football who demonstrates qualities associated with Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community involvement and determination to overcome adversity and injury.
To be eligible for this recognition, nominees must have either played football at and graduated from a Texas high school or currently play at a Texas Division I four-year college.
McCuin is a junior wide receiver who played for Jacksonville High School before joining UTSA. In 12 games last season, he caught 42 passes for 546 yards and scored three touchdowns. McCown is a red shirt junior who graduated from Rusk High School. Last season he completed 294 out of 467 pass attempts for 3,424 yards and threw 25 touchdown passes along with 10 interceptions.
SPORTyler said that the watch list will be narrowed to up to sixteen semifinalists in November and then up to five finalists in December. The selection panel includes broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans and previous recipients of the award.
The winner will be announced in December and celebrated during The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026 in Tyler. Ashton Jeanty of Boise State University received last year’s award; Jeanty now plays professionally for the Las Vegas Raiders.
— Information sources include SPORTyler, Inc., University Texas San Antonio Athletics
