J.K. Dobbins, The Ohio State University running back from LaGrange, (right) receives the 2020 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award during the 7th annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award banquet Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler. (Cara Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

J.K. Dobbins, who had a legendary career at The Ohio State University, was the recipient of the Seventh Annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award during a gala Wednesday night at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.

Dobbins, from La Grange, is the second running back to achieve the honor, joining 2016 winner D’Onta Foreman from the University of Texas. Quarterbacks have won five times.

Dobbins was gracious in his acceptance speech, thanking the Tyler Rose himself, the Campbell family, the city of Tyler and his fellow finalists.

“Thank you all for having me here in Tyler, Texas, and I am so honored to be in the presence of Earl Campbell,” Dobbins said. “There are so many great football players from the state of Texas in college football. (SMU quarterback) Shane (Buechele), (Baylor quarterback) Charlie (Brewer), y’all are great, great players. I want to thank my mom (Mya Grounds) for supporting me. It is such an honor to be a part of this community now.”

Earl Campbell, and his sons Tyler and Christian Campbell, presented the award to Dobbins, a junior who has declared for the NFL Draft.

“I’m honored to present the award to J.K. Dobbins,” Earl Campbell said. “All of these players had an amazing season. They all deserved their place as a finalist.”

Dobbins, Buechele and Brewer were all in attendance. The other finalists were Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was represented by his father Averion Hurts; and Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Hurts was practicing for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Dobbins became the first among a host of great running backs from OSU to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season and only the 27th in official NCAA annals to top the total. He is the ninth Big Ten running back with over 2,000 yards rushing in one season.

Dobbins achieved his 2,003 rushing yards in 2019 by simply being the best against the best competition Ohio State faced during a 13-1 season that featured a third consecutive outright Big Ten Conference championship and a return to the College Football Playoff.

Tyler Campbell noted the finalists are now associated with greatness, referring to his father, the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Football Hall of Famer, one of the top 100 players in the NFL and named the No. 7 all-time college football player.

He implored the players to “utilize your talent and life to solidify and unite your family.”

“You see in this room there are people who are of Tyler, Texas, that aren’t necessarily related to that Campbell name, but because that Campbell name went out and did something in this world, it unified the community. You can unify the community … you can make the United States of America better with your God-given talent. Gentlemen, please use it to solidify and unify the community.”

Former John Tyler, Baylor University and Baltimore Ravens great Gary Baxter was on hand as well as super agent Leigh Steinberg.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, 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 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.

Ron Franklin, former voice of the Texas Longhorns and Houston Oilers, was the emcee. He also broadcasted football and basketball at ESPN.

Previous Earl Campbell Tyler Rose winners include: 2013 — Bryce Petty, Baylor, junior quarterback, Midlothian (Midlothian HS); 2014 — Trevone Boykin, junior quarterback, TCU, Dallas (West Mesquite HS); 2015 — Greg Ward Jr., Houston, junior quarterback, Tyler (John Tyler HS); 2016 — D’Onta Foreman, Texas, junior running back, Texas City (Texas City HS); 2017 — Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, senior quarterback, Austin (Lake Travis HS); and 2018 — Kyler Murray, Oklahoma, junior quarterback, Allen (Allen HS).

The award sponsors include: city of Tyler, BMW of Tyler, Brookshire Grocery Co., Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Clements Fluids Management LLC, Patterson Commercial Property Group, R.W. Fair Foundation, Southside Bank, TDI Air Conditioning/James and Sharon Wynne, Chesley and Ted W. Walters, Austin Bank, Prothro, Wilhelmi & Co., Tyler Morning Telegraph, American State Bank, Texas Bank and Trust, Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Tyler.

TWITTER: @PhilHicksETFS