WACO, Texas - Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty was named one of five finalists for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler announced Thursday.

Petty won the honor, recognizing the top offensive player with a Texas connection, a season ago.

This year, the senior signal caller has passed for 3,305 yards and 26 touchdowns, while completing 62.1 percent of his passes and only throwing six interceptions.

In his second year as a starter, the Midlothian, Texas, native is 14th in the FBS with 14.12 passing yards per completion and 16.9 points responsible for per game. Petty's 300.5 passing yards per game is eighth best in the nation. He has thrown a TD in a school-record 24 straight games played.

Petty led Baylor to a second straight Big 12 championship and a berth in one of the inaugural New Year's Six bowl games. The Bears are ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and No. 5 in both College Football Playoff rankings and the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Under his leadership, the Baylor offense is No. 1 in the country in total offense (581.3 ypg) and scoring (48.8 ppg).

Petty was a second-team All-Big 12 selection. He is already a finalist for the Manning Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards as well.

The other four finalists for the award include: Jay Ajayi (RB, Boise State), J.T. Barrett (QB, Ohio State), Trevone Boykin (QB, TCU) and Samaje Perine (RB, Oklahoma). The winner will be announced at the award banquet in Tyler, Texas, on Jan. 14.

Baylor (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) will now play in the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic versus Michigan State (10-2, 7-1) in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 1. The Bears will be appearing in a bowl game for a fifth-straight season for the first time in program history. The contest is slated for an 11:30 a.m. CT kick from AT&T Stadium. For more information, visit www.baylorbears.com/bowlcentral.

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.

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