Hay Named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List

TYLER, Texas – Offensive lineman Nolan Hay of the University of South Carolina football team has been named to the 14th annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, it was announced recently by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and SPORTyler.

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 in pursuit of reaching goals.

In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: played football at and graduated from a Texas high school and/or currently is playing at an FBS program in the state of Texas.

Hay, a fifth-year senior from Katy, Texas, played in four games at offensive line in 2025 after joining the squad in the summer. He started in games against Missouri and in the season finale against Clemson and was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

Hay played at Incarnate Word in 2024 and started his career playing his first two seasons at Houston Christian. In four previous seasons of college football, Hay has played in 37 games with 34 starts and was a First Team All-Southland Conference selection in 2024 at Incarnate Word. He prepped at James E. Taylor High School where he was an all-district selection playing for head coach Chad Simmons.

The Tyler Rose Award Watch List will be narrowed down to 16 semifinalists in November and then down to five finalists in December. They will be selected by broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans and previous winners. The winner will be announced in December and celebrated at The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet scheduled for January 27, 2027, in Tyler, Texas.

Carolina opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Kent State. The game starts at 12:45 p.m., at Williams-Brice Stadium and the contest will be televised on SEC Network.

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