For the second time this season East Carolina University quarterback Shane Carden has been selected as The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for the fifth week of the college football season, Cindy Smoak, vice president of SPORTyler, announced Monday.
The Conference USA quarterback threw for three touchdowns and 376 yards, while also running for three TDs in a 55-31 upset win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. Carden recorded the third most passing yards in the country this week.
Carden is a graduate of Episcopal High School in Houston, where he led the Knights to their first Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) title since 1994 during his final prep campaign in 2009.
Carden was also the Week 1 winner of the honor.
Honorable mention for week 5:
Kasey Carrier, New Mexico — The senior running back from Pearland (Pearland HS) rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries in a 56-42 loss to UNLV in Albuquerque, N.M. He had the most rushing yards in the country this week.
Tim Cornett, Nevada-Las Vegas — The senior running back from Galena Park (North Shore HS) gained 179 yards and scored three TDs on 25 carries in the win at New Mexico.
Devante Davis, Nevada-Las Vegas — The junior wide receiver from Galena Park (North Shore HS) had 10 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns in the win over New Mexico.
Jameill Showers, Texas-El Paso — The junior quarterback from Killeen (Shoemaker HS) connected on 26 of 43 pass attempts for 365 yards and five touchdowns in a 59-42 loss to Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. The transfer from Texas A&M also rushed for a TD.
Marion Grice, Arizona State — The senior running back from Houston (Aldine Nimitz HS) gained yardage running and receiving in a 62-41 win over Southern California in Tempe, Ariz. He rushed for 63 yards and two TDs on 12 attempts, while gathering in seven receptions for 36 yards and two touchdowns.
Rashard Higgins, Colorado State — The freshman wide receiver from Mesquite (Mesquite HS) had six catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the win over UTEP.
The previous weekly winners include:
Week 1 — Shane Carden, QB, East CarolinaWeek 2 — Chuckie Keeton, QB, Utah StateWeek 3 — Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&MWeek 4 — Kenny Guiton, QB, Ohio State
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, recognizes the top offensive player in Division 1 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 in pursuit of reaching goals.
In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas High School and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year Division I Texas college.
For more information about The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award go towww.earlcampbellaward.com or ETFinalScore.com.