UTEP RB Aaron Jones was selected as one of the 16 semifinalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award the committee announced on Monday.
Jones is the only Conference USA player to be named a semifinalist for the award. The ElPaso native has left his mark this season as the Miners starting tailback. The sophomore rates 22nd among FBS players with 108.6 rushing yards per game, while ranking fourth in Conference USA. Jones has compiled an outstanding 1,086 yards this season. His current total rates 10th-best in program history and also checks him in as the ninth Miner to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
The running backs success doesn’t stop there as he rushed for a career-high 237 yards against New Mexico tying for the fifth-most in a game in school history andadded three touchdowns. Jones also has the 22nd-most rushing yards by an FBS player in a single game this season.
This year’s candidates include four quarterbacks, including our inaugural winner, six running backs and six wide receivers. Seven different conferences are also represented.
The 2014 semi-finalists are:
Jay Ajayi, Boise State, RB, Junior – Plano, Texas (Frisco Liberty HS) – Mountain West Conference
J. T.Barrett, Ohio State, QB, RS Freshman – Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider HS) – Big Ten
Trevone Boykin, TCU, QB, Junior – Dallas, Texas (West Mesquite HS) – Big 12
ShaneCarden, East Carolina, QB, Senior – Houston, Texas (Episcopal HS) – American Athletic Conference
David Cobb, Minnesota, RB, Senior – Killeen, Texas (Ellison HS) – Big Ten
CoreyColeman, Baylor, WR, Sophomore – Richardson, Texas (Pearce HS) – Big 12
Josh Doctson, TCU, WR, Junior – Mansfield, Texas (Legacy HS) – Big 12
Rashard Higgins, Colorado State, WR, Sophomore – Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite HS) – Mountain West
AaronJones, UTEP, RB, Sophomore – El Paso, Texas (Burges HS) – Conference USA
Cayleb Jones, Arizona, WR, Sophomore – Austin, Texas (Austin HS) – Pac-12
ShockLinwood, Baylor, RB, Sophomore – Linden, Texas (Linden-Kildare HS) – Big 12
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa, WR, Sophomore – Abilene, Texas (Abilene HS) – American Athletic Conference
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, RB, Freshman – Pflugerville, Texas (Hendrickson HS) – Big 12
Bryce Petty, Baylor, QB, Senior – Midlothian, Texas (Midlothian HS) – Big 12
Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M, WR, Sophomore – San Antonio, Texas (Jay HS) (Tyler Junior College) Southeastern Conference
Jonathan Williams, Arkansas, RB, Junior – Allen, Texas (Allen HS) – Southeastern Conference
Finalists will be selected from this group and announced on December 10, 2014.
The winner will be announced at the award banquet in Tyler, Texas on January 14, 2015.