TYLER, Texas – Texas A&M freshman Christian Kirk was named one of 16 finalists for The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award announced Monday afternoon. The candidates includes five quarterbacks, five running backs and six wide receivers from five conferences.
Kirk gained 130 all-purpose yards against LSU on Saturday to set a new Texas A&M freshman single-season record, passing the total of 1,542 set by Cyrus Gray in 2008. The Arizona native raised his season total to 1,659 yards, which ranks fifth in school history behind Cyrus Gray (1,806, 2010), Darren Lewis (1,739 in 1990 and 1,705 in 1988) and Leeland McElroy (1,709 in 1995). Kirk needs 65 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season, to go along with his 45 rush, 341 punt-return and 348 kick-return yards.
The freshman wide out paced the Aggies with eight touchdowns on the year, six receiving and two punt return. Kirk’s pair of punt return touchdowns, a 68-yard return against Alabama and 79-yard run back against Arizona State, made him the first Aggie with multiple punt return touchdowns in a single season since Aaron Glenn in 1993.
Finalists for the Tyler Rose Award will be selected and announced on Dec. 7 followed by an award banquet in Tyler, Texas, on Jan. 13, 2016, to name the winner.
2015 Tyler Rose Award Semifinalists
J. T. Barrett, Ohio State, QB, Sophomore – Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider HS) – Big Ten
Trevone Boykin, TCU, QB, Senior – Dallas, Texas (West Mesquite HS) – Big 12
Corey Coleman, Baylor, WR, Junior – Richardson, Texas (Pearce HS) – Big 12
Josh Doctson, TCU, WR, Senior – Mansfield, Texas (Legacy HS) – Big 12
Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa, WR, Senior – Daingerfield, Texas (Daingerfield HS) – American Athletic Conference
Jakeem Grant, Texas Tech, WR, Senior – Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite Horn HS) – Big 12
Aaron Green, TCU, TB, Senior – San Antonio, Texas (Madison HS) – Big 12
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M, WR, Freshman – Scottsdale, Arizona (Saguaro HS) – SEC
Shock Linwood, Baylor, RB, Junior – Linden, Texas (Linden-Kildare HS) – Big 12
Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, QB, Sophomore – Whitehouse, Texas (Whitehouse HS) – Big 12
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, QB, Junior – Austin, Texas (Lake Travis HS) – Big 12
Samaje Perine, Oklahoma, RB, Sophomore – Pflugerville, Texas (Hendrickson HS) – Big 12
Larry Rose, III, New Mexico State, RB, Sophomore – Fairfield, Texas (Fairfield HS) – Sunbelt Conference
Greg Ward Jr., Houston, QB, Junior – Tyler, Texas (John Tyler HS) – American Athletic Conference
DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech, RB, Senior – Missouri City, Texas (Thurgood Marshall HS) – Big 12
James Washington, Oklahoma State, WR, Sophomore – Stamford, Texas (Stamford HS) – Big 12
THE EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD
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 D1 Texas college.
For more information about The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award go to www.earlcampbellaward.com or contact Cindy Smoak, SPORTyler, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce: csmoak@tylertexas.com or 903-592-1661, extension 237.
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Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics