From guiding the University of Alabama football program to a national championship game appearance last season to showing growth in the passing game, sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts has found ways to shoulder the team more through 10 regular season matchups.
With the Crimson Tide holding a 10-0 record and standing atop the College Football Playoff rankings, Hurts was chosen as a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award – via Sports Tyler and Tyler (Texas) Chamber of Commerce. The honor, which was established in 2012, is presented to college football’s Offensive Player of the Year with connections to Texas.
SEMIFINALIST: @AlabamaFTBL QB Jalen Hurts (Channelview HS) #RollTide pic.twitter.com/QgPymM0sCQ
— Earl Campbell Award (@CampbellAward) November 22, 2017
Hurts, a native of Channelview, Texas, captains the Southeastern Conference’s top scoring offense (41.4 ppg) and second-best total offense (479 ypg).
As an individual, he wields the nation’s fourth-highest total quarterback rating at 84.1 while having a passer rating of 160.4.
He has completed 123 of 200 attempts – 61.5 percent – for 1,828 passing yards with 14 touchdowns to one interception.
Prior to his mistake versus Arkansas, Hurts had gone 191 consecutive throws without a turnover.
He’s the Tide’s second leading rusher behind Damien Harris with 686 yards and eight scores on 119 carries. In being responsible for 58 career touchdowns, he ties ex-Alabama standout John Parker Wilson for second in school history.
Marquee plays in crunch moments were a staple of his game last season – especially in victories over Ole Miss and LSU, but this time around, Hurts has done more with his arm. Crucial completions against the Tigers and Mississippi State have helped Alabama remain unbeaten.
He looks to do the same thing in Saturday’s meeting with Auburn as Hurts and company anticipate returning to a conference title game and making a fourth consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff. Quarterbacks that join him as semifinalist for the Earl Campbell honor include Jarrett Stidham of Auburn, J.T. Barrett of Ohio State and Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
