EarlCampbell,pro Football Hall of Famer (left), and Ohio State running backJ.K. Dobbins,of La Grange, shake hands during theSeventh Annual Earl CampbellTyler Rose Award banquetWednesday at Willow Brook Country Club.

Three quarterbacks, a running back and a wide receiver made up the finalists for the seventh annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which was presented Wednesday night at Willow Brook Country Club.

They arrived at being a finalist in different fashions.

Jalen Hurts started his career as a quarterback at the University of Alabama — twice previously being a finalist for the honor — and this year played for the University of Oklahoma.

CeeDee Lamb was Hurts’ top target this season for the Sooners.

J.K. Dobbins was the leading rusher for Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes reach the College Football Playoff.

Charlie Brewer is the son and grandson of former Texas Longhorn quarterbacks but ended up being a standout quarterback at Baylor.

Shane Buechele started his career as a quarterback at Texas but was the signal-caller for SMU this season.

Dobbins, Brewer and Buechele were the only finalists in attendance on Wednesday. Brewer was instructed by Baylor officials to not conduct any interviews primarily because of the Bears’ current coaching search.

J.K. Dobbins

Dobbins was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2017 from La Grange High School.

La Grange was known for its success on the baseball field behind MLB pitcher Homer Bailey. Dobbins has helped shine a light on the La Grange football program with his standout career at Ohio State.

“I know a lot of little guys there look up to me, and it means a lot,” Dobbins said. “I just want to keep putting on a great example for those guys. No matter where you’re from and no matter how big the town, you can do great things.”

Asked how he got out of Texas, Dobbins said, “I wanted to play in big games, and at the time, I didn’t feel like the schools in Texas were capable of doing that.”

Dobbins, who studied consumer and family financial services, is now getting ready for the NFL Draft after rushing for 4,459 yards and 38 touchdowns in three seasons. He also caught 71 passes for 645 yards and five touchdowns.

“Ezekiel Elliott is a good friend of mine and Tyrann Mathieu, they’ve given me great advice,” Dobbins said.

One of the things Dobbins missed while being in Ohio was the ability to go to Whataburger.

Asked what he would order if he went to a Whataburger in Tyler, he said, “Definitely the No. 3. I love the triple meat. There are a lot of other things there, but the triple meat is my favorite.”

Shane Buechele

The son of former MLB third baseman Steve Buechele, Shane grew up hoping to one day follow in his father’s footsteps.

“Growing up, I always wrote in my yearbooks in elementary school that I wanted to be an MLB baseball player,” Buechele said. “It’s a little different playing football. But once I realized I could go to school and get (his education paid for) for playing football, that’s when I realized this game is going to work out for me. I also fell in love with the game, as well.”

Buechele was a four-star quarterback at Arlington Lamar High School. He then signed with the University of Texas, where he spent three years but played just two full seasons. At Texas, he was 403 of 648 for 4,636 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

He then transferred to SMU.

“It was a different process,” Buechele said. “It was a lot going through the whole recruiting process again when you go through the transfer portal. I’m just glad what SMU has done for me, not only playing football but also being in their business school. It’s been really good for me.”

This season at SMU, Buechele was 307 of 490 for 3,929 yards with 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

“I just wanted to get back to playing football again and loving the game,” Buechele said. “That’s what I did this year. It was a great season. I had a lot of fun with my teammates.”

Buechele said right now he is going to class and getting ready to play one more season at SMU.