AMES, Iowa – Four Cyclones – Breece Hall (RB), Brock Purdy (QB), Mike Rose (LB) and Charlie Kolar (TE) – were named to the Walter Camp Award watch list, announced today and given annually to college football’s best player.
A total of 35 players nationally made the list, and Iowa State is the only school to have four representatives. The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.
Hall, who became the first unanimous All-American in Iowa State history in 2020, finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award in 2020.
A native of Wichita, Kan., Hall returns for his junior season as one of the best ballcarriers in the nation. The 2020 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year led the nation in rushing yards (1,572), 100-yard rushing games (9) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (12) in 2020.
He also set or matched five Iowa State season records: touchdowns (23), rushing touchdowns (21), scoring (138), multi-TD rush games (8) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (12).
Purdy, a senior, has set virtually every passing record in Iowa State history in his first three years as a starter. He’s a three-time All-Big 12 recipient, including earning first team accolades in 2020.
The Gilbert, Ariz., native had another fantastic campaign in 2020, throwing for 2,750 yards and 19 touchdowns, both totals ranking in ISU’s season top-five record lists. He also set a school record in completion percentage at 66.6 percent.
Purdy owns or shares 25 school records in his tremendous career, but perhaps his greatest accomplishment is his impact on winning.
He has the most QB wins in Iowa State history (23) and is 19-7 vs. Big 12 competition in the regular season. Purdy has a victory over every team in the Big 12 and is 12-1 as the starting quarterback vs. Big 12 teams in Jack Trice Stadium.
A senior from Brecksville, Ohio, Rose was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team recipient in 2020 while leading the Cyclones to win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
Rose, who has started all 38 games in his outstanding career, was named to multiple All-America teams in 2020 and has earned All-Big 12 recognition in each of his three seasons in Ames.
This past year, Rose had the most tackles in the Big 12 (96) and was credited with 10.5 TFL, ranking third on the team. The Cyclone star also led all NCAA linebackers nationally with five interceptions, the most by a Cyclone linebacker in school history.
Rose will enter his senior year with 248 tackles and 29.0 TFL, ranking 10th all-time in school history.
Kolar returns for his senior season as one of the best tight ends in the country. The two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-Big 12 choice was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award in 2020 and is on pace to shatter virtually all tight end marks in Cyclone history.
Kolar tallied 44 receptions for 591 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in 11 games last year. His seven touchdown catches tied for seventh on ISU’s season list.
The Norman, Okla., native owns ISU career records for tight ends in receptions (106), receiving yards (1,425) and touchdown grabs (17). His 17 career touchdown catches ranks fourth all-time in school history and he will enter the season with a 24-game streak with a reception, the fourth-best string in school history.
