1. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin arrested for assault, suspended from Alamo Bowl

Trevone Boykin, who quarterbacked Texas Christian University to one of its greatest football seasons ever, was named the winner of the second annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award on Wednesday night at Willow Brook Country Club.

Earl Campbell, the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner, and his sons Christian and Tyler, presented Boykin the trophy.

“First, I want to thank God. I could not have done this without Him,” said Boykin, a junior who led the Horned Frogs to a 12-1 record and No. 3 final ranking. “What an honor to be associated with Earl Campbell and his family. When you think football in Texas, you think Earl Campbell.

“I am at a loss for words. This means so much.”

Boykin also thanked his mother, Nikita, who was in attendance, the Campbell family, his Horned Frog teammates and coaches, the city of Tyler and the other finalists.

“I’m honored to present the award to Trevone Boykin,” Earl Campbell said. “The votes were close because all of these players had an amazing season. We were proud to be able to present the award to Trevone.”

Campbell noted that Boykin will now be a member of the Campbell family.

Along with Boykin, other finalists in attendance were freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, of Ohio State University, and freshman Samaje Perine, of the University of Oklahoma. Unable to attend were 2013 winner quarterback Bryce Petty, of Baylor University, and Jay Ajayi, of Boise State University. Petty was working in San Diego in preparation for the Senior Bowl and the NFL draft, while Ajayi was preparing for the draft as well.

The parents of Barrett (Stacy and Joe Barrett) and Perine (Casey Barber and Gloria Perine) were on hand for the banquet. Representing Petty was his mother Dena, while Ajayi was represented by his mother Kemi Ajayi. The hometowns of the players are Dallas (Boykin), Wichita Falls (Barrett), Pflugerville (Perine), Midlothian (Petty) and Plano (Ajayi).

Also, emcee Ron Franklin, former voice of the Houston Oilers, Texas Longhorns and ESPN football and basketball, announced a $5,000 scholarship to a Smith County senior who participates in varsity athletics. The winner will be announced at a luncheon in the spring.

Boykin was instrumental in TCU’s surprising season. A junior from Dallas, Boykin set TCU single-season records for passing yards (3,901), touchdown passes (33), touchdowns responsible for (42) and total offense (4,608).

Boykin, who attended West Mesquite High School, ranked third in the nation in total offense at 354.5 yards per game and became just the third quarterback since 2009 to average at least 300 yards per game passing (300.1) and 50 rushing (54.4).

With Boykin behind center, he led TCU to its first Big 12 championship in just its third season in the conference. The Horned Frogs, who tied with Baylor for the league title, capped their season with a 42-3 win over Ole Miss in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Boykin was a four-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week this season while twice being named The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week. He also finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, along with earning All-America honors from Walter Camp, Associated Press, USA Today and CBSSports.com. He also was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, 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: born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas high school and/or played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year DI Texas college.

 

Sponsors

Award sponsors are The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, SPORTyler, city of Tyler, Azalea Orthopedics, Brookshire’s, Clements Fluids Management, Kitchens Unique, Patterson Commercial Property Group, R.W. Fair Foundation, Suddenlink, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics, Tyler Morning Telegraph, Chesley and Ted W. Walters, Austin Bank, Southside Bank, Citizens 1st Bank, Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, Prothro, Wilhelmi & Co. and Tyler Junior College.

 

Voting

The voting committee, co-chaired by Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman, and Phil Hicks, Tyler Morning Telegraph, included 38 broadcasters, commentators and journalists from across the country as well as fans and the previous winner, Petty.