Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green continues to receive recognition ahead of the 2025 college football season. On Wednesday, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler named Green to the 2025 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. The award is presented to the top offensive player in Division I football who was either born in Texas, graduated from a Texas high school, played at a Texas-based junior college, or currently plays at a Texas Division I four-year college.
Green, a native of Lewisville, Texas, had a notable 2024 season with 3,756 total yards—602 rushing and 3,154 passing—with 23 touchdowns. His performance ranks as the second-most single-season total offense in Arkansas program history behind Ryan Mallett’s record of 3,795 yards. He became only the seventh player in program history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season. Nationally in 2024, Green ranked thirteenth in total offense per game (288.9), fourteenth in passing yards per completion (13.71), and twenty-first in total passing yards.
Green was also named Liberty Bowl MVP after throwing for an Arkansas bowl record of 341 yards and two touchdowns while adding eighty-one rushing yards and another touchdown during a win over Texas Tech. He was the first Arkansas quarterback since 2016 to throw for more than three hundred yards in a bowl game.
Heading into the new season, Green is one of only two returning quarterbacks nationally (along with Oklahoma’s John Mateer) who both passed for over three thousand yards and rushed for over six hundred yards last year. He is among ten Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks entering 2025 with more than four thousand career passing yards and more than one thousand career rushing yards. His combined career yardage stands at 8,576—third nationally among FBS players with five or fewer seasons of eligibility.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award honors Earl Campbell, a graduate of John Tyler High School who later starred at Texas and won the Heisman Trophy before leading the NFL in rushing three times with the Houston Oilers. Campbell earned NFL MVP honors in 1979 and was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
On Tuesday, Green was also named to the preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The Golden Arm Award has recognized excellence both on and off the field at quarterback since its founding thirty-nine years ago. It is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation along with A.O. Smith Corporation.
Green’s name also appears on several other preseason lists: he was selected to watch lists for the Manning Award (Aug. 14), Davey O’Brien Award (Aug. 7), and Maxwell Award (July 28).
As this season progresses, semifinalists and finalists will be chosen from these watch lists before one quarterback receives the Golden Arm Award in December at an enshrinement event at Baltimore’s Four Seasons Hotel—Johnny Unitas’ hometown—a night dedicated to honoring leadership and legacy within college football.
Coach Sam Pittman leads Arkansas into preseason practice beginning Aug. 1 ahead of their opening game against Alabama A&M on Aug. 30 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The foundation explained its mission: “Now in its thirty-ninth year, the Golden Arm Award continues to honor excellence both on and off the field at the quarterback position (… ) The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation in partnership with A.O. Smith Corporation, whose mission aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the game of football while promoting character, leadership and academic achievement among young athletes.”
Regarding this year’s process: “As the 2025 college football season unfolds, the watch list will be narrowed to semifinalists, finalists and one standout quarterback will take home the Golden Arm Award in December (… ) The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johnny Unitas’ hometown of Baltimore — an unforgettable night honoring leadership, legacy and the best in college football.” This statement comes from organizers describing plans for this year’s event.
Earl Campbell’s achievements were cited: “The award is named in honor of Earl Campbell (… ) In his senior season, Campbell led the nation with one thousand seven hundred forty-four rushing yards and nineteen touchdowns (… ) He was drafted by the Houston Oilers (…) went on to lead NFL (…) earned NFL MVP (…) elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame…”
