Emcee Brian Jones interviews SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings during the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award banquet Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. (Les Hassell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was named the recipient of the 12th Annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award during a gala Wednesday at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.

Jeanty, a Jacksonville, Florida native, is a junior at Boise State. He went to Frisco Lone Star High School.

Jeanty was not present at the banquet but appeared by video message, stating he was stuck in New Orleans due to the heavy snowstorm.

The other finalists were: Bryson Daily, QB, Army, Senior; Hometown: Abernathy; High School: Abernathy;

Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU, Sophomore; Hometown; Dallas; High School: South Oak Cliff;

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado, Senior; Hometown: Dallas; High School: Addison Trinity Christian;

Cam Ward, QB, Miami, Senior; Hometown: West Columbia; High School: Columbia.

Daily and Jennings were present at the banquet.

The emcee was Brian Jones, college football studio analyst for CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is named for the 1977 Heisman Trophy winning running back at The University of Texas. The award honors the legacy of Texas legend Earl Campbell and recognizes his home community of Tyler.

The award was announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler and 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 and graduated from a Texas High School and/or playing at a four-year Division I Texas college.

The sponsors include: Brookshire Grocery Company, City of Tyler, BMW of Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, Clements Fluids Management, LLC, Flowers Davis, Harry and Dawn Leatherwood, Patterson Commercial Property Group, R.W. Fair Foundation, Southside Bank, Sharon and James Wynne, Ted W. Walters, Tyler Economic Development Council, Austin Bank, Azalea Orthopedics, Delek US, Prothro, Wilhelmi & Co., Tyler Morning Telegraph, The University of Texas at Tyler, UT Health East Texas Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute, American State Bank, Texas Bank and Trust, and Tyler Junior College.

Previous winners include: 2013 — Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor; 2014 — Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU; 2015 — Greg Ward Jr., QB, Houston; 2016 — D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas; 2017 — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma; 2018 — Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma; 2019 — J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State; 2020 — Kyle Trask, QB, Florida; 2021 — Bailey Zapppe, QB, Western Kentucky; 2022 — Max Duggan, QB, TCU; and 2023 — Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is presented by nonprofit SPORTyler, Inc., in conjunction with the City of Tyler, Visit Tyler, and Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Located in downtown Tyler, SPORTyler helps to encourage student-athletes to succeed on and off the field.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Selection Committee is comprised of Texas-based journalists and college football dignitaries and, in subsequent years, each of the all-time winners.

The winner will receive a unique trophy sculpted by noted artist Ken Bjorge.