Last season, Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was named the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner.
The award is given annually to the “top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity.”
Now, just one week into the 2016 college football season, Ward is well on his way to winning the honor for a consecutive year.
On Wednesday, Ward was named The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for his opening weekend performance which led the Cougars to a big win over the Oklahoma Sooners, who were the No. 3 team in the nation entering the game.
Houston upended Oklahoma 33-23, to get their season off on a high note.
Ward was crucial to that success against the No. 3-ranked Sooners, finishing the game throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
Throughout his career at Houston, Ward is 20-2 as a starter while throwing for 5,469 yards, 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He is a big reason for the program’s recent turnaround and could emerge as a Heisman contender if the Cougars continue to impress.
Honorable mentions for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for Week 1 can be seen below:
J.T. BARRETT, QB, OHIO STATE – Senior
Wichita Falls, TX (Rider HS)
21/31 – 349 yards, 6 TD, INT | 30 rushing yards, TD
77-10 W vs. Bowling Green
TERIYON GIPSON, QB, NEW MEXICO – Senior
Dallas, TX (Kimball HS)
8 carries – 181 yards, 2 TD
48-21 W vs. South Dakota
KENNY HILL, QB, TCU – Junior
Southlake, TX (Carroll HS)
33/49 – 439 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT | 45 yards rushing, 3 TD
59-41 W vs. South Dakota State
JALEN HURTS, QB, ALABAMA – Freshman
Channelview, TX (Channelview HS)
6/11 – 118 yards passing, 2 TD, INT | 32 yards rushing, 2 TD
W 52-6 vs. #20 USC
AARON JONES, RB, UTEP – Junior
El Paso, TX (Burges HS)
31 carries – 249 yards, 2 TD | 43 yards receiving
38-22 W vs. North Mexico State
TYLER JONES, QB, TEXAS STATE – Senior
Stephenville, TX (Stephenville HS)
40/55 – 418 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT | 1 rushing TD
56-54 W vs. Ohio
PATRICK MAHOMES, II, QB, TEXAS TECH – Junior
Whitehouse, TX (Whitehouse HS)
30/43 – 483 yds, 4 TD | 57 yards rushing, 2 TD
69-17 W vs. SFA
DEVANTE MAYS, RB, UTAH STATE – Senior
Livingston, TX (Livingston HS)
18 carries – 208 yards, 3 TD
45-6 W vs. Weber State
COURTLAND SUTTON, WR, SMU – Sophomore
Brenham, TX (Brenham HS)
4 catches – 162 yards, 3 TD
34-21 W @ North Texas
TYRONE SWOOPES, QB, TEXAS – Senior
Whitewright, TX (Whitewright HS)
13 carries – 53 yards, 3 TD | 0-1 passing
50-47 W vs. Notre Dame (2 OT)
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