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UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State junior running back James Peoples and redshirt senior wide receiver Chase Sowell were named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list on Tuesday.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes 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. The nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: Played at and graduated from a Texas High School and/or currently playing at a Texas Division I four-year college.
James Peoples · Jr. · RB · 5-10 · 204 · San Antonio, Texas · Veterans Memorial · Ohio State
Has played in 22 career games.
Has rushed for 541 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Added 11 catches for 48 yards.
In 2025, gained 344 yards on 61 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Contributed 10 catches for 50 yards and a 20-yard kick return.
Rushed for 59 yards on eight carries against Grambling (9/6).
Gained 47 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 11 yards against Ohio (9/13).
Tallied 59 yards on seven carries against Minnesota (10/4).
Rushed for 42 yards and scored two touchdowns against UCLA (11/15).
Collected 55 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries against Rutgers (11/22).
Chase Sowell · R-Sr. · WR · 6-3 · 210 · Hunter, Texas · Atascocita · Colorado/ECU/Iowa State
Voted Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2025.
Named All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2025.
Has played in 36 games and made 25 starts in his collegiate career.
Owns 115 catches for 1,823 yards (15.9 yards per reception) and six touchdowns.
Has five career games with 100+ receiving yards.
He enters the 2026 season as one of three FBS receivers with three 500+ receiving yard seasons.
At Iowa State in 2025, caught 32 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns.
Collected four receptions for 146 yards, including a 52-yard catch, against Arizona (9/27). Averaged 36.5 yards per catch.
Hauled in five catches for 58 yards and a 31-yard touchdown at Cincinnati (10/4).
Had six receptions for 85 yards against Arizona State (11/1).
Logged two receptions for 60 yards against Kansas (11/22).
Made four catches for 54 yards and a 16-yard score at Oklahoma State (11/29).
Earl Campbell graduated from John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas before playing at Texas, where he won the Heisman Trophy. He went on to lead the NFL in rushing three times, earned NFL MVP in 1979 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
The watch list will be narrowed to up to 16 semifinalists in November and up to five finalists in December. The recipient will be announced in December. The winner will be honored at the gala announcement banquet, held in Tyler, Texas on January 27, 2027.
Nittany Lions On Award Watch Lists
Ryan Barker – Groza
Rocco Becht – Davey O'Brien, Manning, Maxwell, Unitas
Benjamin Brahmer – Lombardi, Mackey
Gabe Burkle – Mackey
Jeremiah Cooper – Bednarik, Comeback POY
Cooper Cousins – Wuerffel Trophy
Kooper Ebel – Butkus
Max Granville – Comeback POY
Carson Hansen – Doak Walker
James Peoples – Doak Walker, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose
Brock Riker – Rimington Trophy
Tony Rojas – Comeback POY, Lott IMPACT Trophy
Blaise Sokach-Minnick – Mannelly
Chase Sowell – Earl Campbell Tyler Rose
Siale Taupaki – Polynesian POY