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Memphis TE Hunter Tipton named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
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- Memphis TE Hunter Tipton named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
On Tuesday, Memphis tight end Hunter Tipton was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. Tipton continues the many preseason accolades that Tigers have received this offseason.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recognizes "the nation's college offensive player of the year who meets the awards criteria." The awards criteria centers around the state of Texas .
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The player must either graduate from a Texas high school or play at a Texas four-year program.
Tipton attended Timpson High School in Timpson, Texas before attending Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.
According to the Tigers' release, "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; specifically, tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury to pursuit of reaching goals."
Tipton attended two junior colleges before landing at an FBS program. After playing at Tyler Junior College, he transferred to Northeast Oklahoma A&M, where he recorded 88 yards and a touchdown.
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He signed with Louisiana Tech after one season at Northeast Oklahoma A&M, and he played in six games, recording 23 yards on five receptions.
His breakout season came last year at Middle Tennessee. The tight end played in all 12 games, making 10 starts, and he ended the year with 411 yards and two touchdowns on 39 receptions.
He finished the season fourth on the team in receptions and fifth on the team in receiving yards. He was also on this watchlist last season.
Each week, an Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week will be selected, and the finalists for the award will be announced in December. The semifinalists will be announced on December 4, the finalists will be named on December 11, and the winner will be named on December 23 ahead of the award banquet in late January.
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Memphis has appeared on this watchlist a ton in recent years. Brendon Lewis , Seth Henigan and Sean Dykes have all appeared on the list.
Tipton looks to play a massive role for the Tigers' offense this season, and it will be interesting to see what impact he makes early in the season. At 6-foot-5 and 241 pounds, the tight end will be a big target for whoever starts at quarterback.
Memphis hasn't named a starting quarterback, and Marcus Stokes and Air Noland have spent all offseason engaged in a quarterback battle. Charles Huff said he doesn't want anyone outside of the program to know who the starter is until the first game of the year.
The Tigers start the season on Saturday in Las Vegas against UNLV .
