JANUARY 28,2021 TYLER, TEXAS THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! YELLOW ROSE SPONSOR WHITE ROSE SPONSORS R.W. FAIR FOUNDATION Sharon and James Wynne Chesley and Ted Walters CORAL ROSE SPONSORS Austin Bank Tyler Morning Telegraph PINK ROSE SPONSORS American State Bank BMW of Tyler Prothro, Wilhelmi & Company Texas Bank and Trust Tyler Junior College University of Texas at Tyler Sponsors as of print deadline. 1 Earl Campbell for over 1,000 yards and was voted the companies in the nation. had a professional career that was Bluebonnet Bowl Offensive Player of Known in football for being able to take marked by his ability to sustain a hit. the Game after Texas’ win over Colorado. a hit without going down, Campbell He was known for his strength and the The following year was a disappointment continued to push his brand of meat fearlessness of his play. He rose out to the University and Campbell. Earl products while remaining an active of the ashes of poverty to become a suffered a hamstring injury that affected presence at his alma mater. force on the football field. He won the his production and, after a mediocre Heisman Trophy and restored the season, Coach Royal stepped down. Earl Campbell’s rise out of the small hopes of Houston football fans when East Texas town of Tyler to the National he joined the Oilers in 1978. The new coach, Fred Akers, challenged Football League and beyond, is helped One of four Texas Legends – Campbell to lose weight and increase by his ability to keep moving forward Davy Crockett, Sam Houston, his production. In 1977, he won the despite the many obstacles that lay in Stephen F. Austin, Earl Campbell. Heisman Trophy, racking up an his path. Born March 29, 1955, in Tyler, Texas, impressive 1,744 yards rushing Whether on the football field or in the Campbell was the sixth of eleven and earned a degree in Speech highly competitive food business as children born to Bert and Ann Campbell. Communications. the founder of one of the fastest His father picked roses, worked in a The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the growing food companies in America, convenience store and died when Earl first pick in the 1978 NFL draft but Earl has had success based on his was eleven years old. Raised by his traded the pick to Houston. Houston mother, he was heavily counted on, pure resiliency. along with his siblings, to carry a greater then chose Campbell as their number He remains married to Reuna, the responsibility within the family. one pick. EARL woman he met in the ninth grade, and CHRISTIAN His love for football was discovered The Oilers at the time were a talented has two sons (Tyler and Christian) and in the fifth grade. He was bigger and team that had never lived up to their two grandchildren (Messiah and CAMPBELL faster than the kids that he played with expectations. Campbell soon made a Cheyenne, with one on the way!) and idolized linebacker Dick Butkus. name for himself in Houston and after Campbell’s career landed him in the THE TYLER ROSE a 199-yard night on Monday Night Pro Football Hall of Fame and forever It wasn’t until high school that Campbell Football in 1978, his reputation as in the hearts of many diehard Texas became a running back, a switch he “a great” was solidified. football fans. was unhappy with at first. When his coach promised him he could play both Although he enjoyed his reputation as sides of the ball, Campbell embraced one of the best in the game, Campbell’s HIGHLIGHTS: his new position and led his team to Oilers teams seemed to always fall short. ■ First player taken in 1978 NFL Draft an undefeated season and a state championship in 1973. Campbell spent most of his career in ■ Texas All-American, Heisman Trophy Houston until coach Bum Phillips was winner He went on to the University of Texas fired. Phillips traded for Campbell when ■ NFL rushing champion, Player of the in 1974. During his freshman season, he was hired by the New Orleans Saints Year, All-Pro, Pro Bowl choice, he rushed for 928 yards and received in 1984. It was in New Orleans that 1978, 1979, 1980 the Southwest Conference Newcomer Campbell would retire in 1985 after of the Year Award. He became close Phillips was fired again. ■ Career high 1,934 yards rushing to his coach and mentor, Darrell Royal, including four 200-yard rushing and worked as hard academically as After retiring, Campbell returned to games, 1980 Texas and accepted a position with the he did athletically. ■ University of Texas Athletic Department. Career stats: 9,407 yards, 74 TDs “He don’t take no prisoners,” said In 1991, he founded Earl Campbell rushing, 121 receptions, 806 yards. Royal of his star running back’s style. Meat Products, Inc., now one of ■ Played in five Pro Bowls and two Earl Campbell is one of only three Heisman Trophy winners to have also been first overall National Football In his sophomore season, he rushed the fastest growing meat product Division Championship games. 2 League draft pick and a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. 3 JAELON DARDEN WIDE RECEIVER UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS Jaelon Darden finished his career as the program’s all-time • Finished with 74 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 leader in career receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) touchdowns, all team highs, while starting all nine and receiving touchdowns (38), he is the program record games this season holder for single-season receiving touchdowns (19 in 2020), • Had team-highs with eight catches for 173 yards and a ranks second in total (receiving/rushing/returns) career career-high four touchdowns (the ninth multi-touchdown touchdowns (39) and second in single-season receiving game of his career), became the program leader in career yards (1,190 in 2020). He had nine career multi-touchdown receptions (230) and receiving yards (2,782) while also games and six career three-touchdown games, with four taking over second-place all-time in single season receiving coming in 2020. yards with 1,190 and total career touchdowns (rushing/ receiving/returns) with 39 in the win vs. UTEP on 12/11 Besided being named a finalist for the 2020 Earl Campbell • Named the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Tyler Rose Award, Darden was also a semifinalist for the Week after having team-highs with eight catches for 135 2020 Biletnikoff Award. yards and three touchdowns (the fifth three-touchdown game of his career) and becoming the program leader He ranked second in the nation in receiving touchdowns in career touchdown catches (34) and single-season (19), third in receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in touchdowns (15) vs. Louisiana Tech on 12/3 receptions (74) during the 2020 season as of 1/4/2021. • Had a team-high eight catches for 143 yards and a touchdown (which tied the career program record) at 2020: UTSA on 11/28 • Named an ESPN All-American • Had a team-high four catches for 50 yards and a • Named a First Team All-American by Pro Football touchdown (the 30th of his career) in the win vs. Rice Focus and the Football Writers Association of America on 11/21 • Named a Second Team All-American by the Associated • Had a team-high 10 catches for 204 yards and a Press, Sporting News, the American Football Coaches touchdown in the win at Middle Tennessee on 10/17 Association and The Athletic • Had a team-high 13 tied his career-high with 13 catches • Named the Conference USA Most Valuable Player and for a career-high 244 yards and three touchdowns vs. earned First Team All-Conference Honors Charlotte on 10/10 • Named the Pro Football Focus Conference USA Player • Had a team-high and tied his career-high with 13 catches of the Year for 104 yards and a touchdown vs. Southern Miss on 10/3 • Named the Dave Campbell's Texas Football Texas • Caught a team-high five passes for 66 yards and two College Offensive Player of the Year touchdowns vs. SMU on 9/19 • Preseason Conference USA selection • Caught five passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns • On the preseason watch list for the Maxwell, Biletnikoff in the season-opening win vs. HBU on 9/5 and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards while also featured • Major: Integrative Studies on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250 list • Parents: Tamishe Darden and the late Manya Darden 4 5 D’ERIQ KING QUARTERBACK UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI 2020 (Redshirt Senior): Named one of four team captains interceptions of season against Tigers…Tossed season-high prior to season…Started all 11 games at quarterback and four touchdown passes in win over Pittsburgh (Oct. 17)… helped lead Hurricanes to 8-2 record in regular season, Finished with 222 yards on 16-for-31 passing with two including 7-2 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play… interceptions in start against Panthers…Threw for 322 yards Earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition…Named in win over Virginia (Oct. 24)…Had one touchdown pass and semifinalist for Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and completed 21 of 30 pass attempts in start versus Cavaliers… Johnny Unitas Award…Threw for 2,686 yards with 23 300-yard game was second of season and eighth of career… touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions in Had historic performance in come-from-behind win over NC regular season…Completed eye-popping 64.1 percent of State (Nov.