TYLER, Texas --- Texas A&M play-making wide receiver and return specialist Christian Kirk was named to the watch list for the 2017 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which is given annually to college football's top offensive player with ties to the state of Texas.
A semifinalist for the award in 2016, Kirk, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., is a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection at three positions – wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist. Kirk was the only player in the SEC with more than 80 catches in 2016 (83 for 928 yards), and he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. Kirk was the first player in Texas A&M history to make 80 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He is the nation's active leader in punt return average and punt return touchdowns with a 23.1 average and five scores on 27 career punt returns.
2017 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
A semifinalist for the award in 2016, Kirk, a junior from Scottsdale, Ariz., is a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection at three positions – wide receiver, all-purpose and return specialist. Kirk was the only player in the SEC with more than 80 catches in 2016 (83 for 928 yards), and he led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns. Kirk was the first player in Texas A&M history to make 80 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He is the nation's active leader in punt return average and punt return touchdowns with a 23.1 average and five scores on 27 career punt returns.
2017 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
| Name | School | Position | Year | Hometown |
| Jalen Hurts | Alabama | QB | Soph. | Houston, Texas |
| Devwah Whaley | Arkansas | RB | Soph. | Beaumont, Texas |
| Kam Martin | Auburn | RB | Soph. | Port Arthur, Texas |
| Jarrett Stidham | Auburn | QB | Soph. | Stephenville, Texas |
| Josh Cleveland | Bowling Green | RB | Sr. | Austin, Texas |
| Tejan Koroma | BYU | Center | Sr. | Allen, Texas |
| Vic Enwere | California | RB | Sr. | Missouri City, Texas |
| Steven Montez | Colorado | QB | Soph. | El Paso, Texas |
| Austin Davis | Duke | Center | R-Sr. | Mansfield, Texas |
| Tyrie Cleveland | Florida | WR | Soph. | Houston, Texas |
| Chason Virgil | Fresno State | QB | Soph. | Mesquite, Texas |
| Parker Braun | Georgia Tech | OL | Soph. | Hallsville, Texas |
| Linell Bonner | Houston | WR | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| Richard Lagow | Indiana | QB | Sr. | Plano, Texas |
| Hakeem Butler | Iowa State | WR | Soph. | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Steven Sims Jr. | Kansas | WR | Jr. | Houston, Texas |
| Brendon Moore | Maryland | C | Jr. | Austin, Texas |
| Patrick Taylor | Memphis | RB | Soph. | Humble, Texas |
| Rashad Still | Minnesota | WR | Jr. | El Paso, Texas |
| J'Mon Moore | Missouri | WR | Sr. | Missouri City, Texas |
| Devine Ozigbo | Nebraska | RB | Jr. | Sachse, Texas |
| Tyrone Owens | New Mexico | RB | Jr. | Manor, Texas |
| Larry Rose, III | New Mexico State | RB | Sr. | Fairfield, Texas |
| Jeffery Wilson | North Texas State | RB | Sr. | Elkhart, Texas |
| Durham Smythe | Notre Dame | TE | Graduate | Belton, Texas |
| J.T. Barrett | Ohio State | QB | Graduate | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | QB | Sr. | Austin, Texas |
| James Washington | Oklahoma State | WR | Sr. | Stamford, Texas |
| Juwan Washington | San Diego State | RB | Soph. | Kennedale, Texas |
| Courtland Sutton | SMU | WR | Sr. | Brenham, Texas |
| Kyle Hicks | TCU | RB | Sr. | Arlington, Texas |
| Kenny Hill | TCU | QB | Sr. | Southlake, Texas |
| KaVontae Turpin | TCU | WR | Jr. | Monroe, LA |
| Connor Williams | Texas | OT | Jr. | Coppell, Texas |
| Christian Kirk | Texas A&M | WR | Jr. | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Aaron Brewer | Texas State | Center | Soph. | Dallas, Texas |
| Dylan Cantrell | Texas Tech | WR | Sr. | Whitehouse, Texas |
| Keke Coutee | Texas Tech | WR | Jr. | Lufkin, Texas |
| Nic Shimonek | Texas Tech | QB | Sr. | Mildred, Texas |
| Lexington Thomas | UNLV | RB | Jr. | Houston, Texas |
| Ronald Jones, II | USC | TB | Jr. | McKinney, Texas |
| Aca'Cedric Ware | USC | TB | Jr. | DeSoto, Texas |
| Salesi Uhatafe | Utah | OL | Sr. | Euless, Texas |
| Kent Myers | Utah State | QB | Sr. | Rowlett, Texas |
| Josh Stewart | UTSA | WR | Sr. | College Station, Texas |