SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State sophomore quarterback Willie Jones III has been recognized for his outstanding performance in TXST's 40-31 victory at Georgia State last Saturday in being named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award's Honorable Mention list for week 10 of the college football season.
 
Jones III, who is from Silsbee, Texas, threw for career-highs of 325 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 62 yards and a TD against the Panthers. He is the first Bobcat to pass for 300 yards in a game this season as he completed 21-of-26 passes at Georgia State.
 
He threw a 93-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Haydel for the Sun Belt Conference's third-longest pass in league history. Jones III also had an 11-yard TD pass to Javen Banks after scoring Texas State's first touchdown in the game on a 48-yard run.
 
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 D1 Texas college.
 
The Bobcats return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon when they host Appalachian State in a Sun Belt contest. The game will be Texas State's annual Heroes/Veterans Appreciation Day game.