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#66 B.J. Finney |
Position: Offensive Line Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
Benjamin J. Isaac Finney II (b. Oct. 26, 1991) is a former walk-on offensive lineman who has turned into a team leader and was voted a player representative for the 2014 season. He also is a two-time team captain.
He is likely to be a preseason candidate for the Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award for the second straight year. He also will contend for a second year of both AP and coaches first-team All-Big 12 honors.
A two-time Rimington candidate and team captain who has started all 39 career games, including the last 38 at center, Finney's almost like a buzz-cut clone of his position coach, Charlie Dickey.
The resemblance is most apparent when he lines up with the ball in his hand and channels his will into the captaincy of the offensive line. But when Finney talks, he sounds more like a younger (and beefier) Bill Snyder.
Finney is a player who embodies the team concept, and such players deserve all the accolades I can offer.
Finney was a state champion wrestler at Andale High School, and wrestlers tend to make pretty good offensive linemen. Couple that with a blue-collar work ethic and it's no wonder he made such a strong impact so quickly.
In 2012, Finney was a first-team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press and Phil Steele, a second-team pick by The San Antonio Express-News, and an honorable mention selection by the league's coaches.
He also earned votes from the coaches for the offensive lineman of the year award, and was a midseason All-Big 12 pick by Phil Steele, a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist and a resident of the Rimington Trophy watch list.