Three Big 12 quarterbacks were named finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Thursday.

Heisman front-runner and Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones and West Virginia’s Geno Smith were all selected.

The list of 10 finalists was narrowed from an original field on 29.

In order to be a candidate for the Golden Arm Award the student-athlete must be completing their college eligibility or be a fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with his class. Candidates are judged upon character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic accomplishments.

The Big 12's three finalists are tied for the most from any conference.

The 2012 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented on Friday, December 7.

The Big 12 is no stranger to winning this award. While Andrew Luck of Stanford won it last season, previous winners include Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, and Oklahoma's Jason White.

Other finalists this year include Matt Barkley of USC and Tajh Boyd of Clemson.

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