Burlsworth Trophy Announces Top 10 Semifinalists

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Nov. 11, 2025 – Today, the Burlsworth Trophy selection committee announces the top 10 semifinalists for the 2025 award. The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Brandon Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER“, which was released nationally in 2016.

The 2024 winner was linebacker Bryce Boettcher from the University of Oregon. Oregon spent much of the 2024 season ranked number one with Boettcher starting all 13 games and leading the team in tackles while earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition. Boettcher was granted another year of FBS football eligibility and returned for the 2025 season.

The 2025 semifinalists include:

School	Name	Position	Year
Baylor	Josh Cameron	WR	RS-SR
North Texas	Drew Mestemaker	QB	RS-F
Notre Dame	Jordan Faison	WR	JR
Oklahoma	Febechi Nwaiwu	OL	RS-SR
Oregon	Bryce Boettcher	ILB	SR
Tennessee	DeSean Bishop	RB	RS-Soph
Texas	Michael Taafe	DB	RS-SR
USC	King Miller	RB	RS-F
Utah State	Bryson Barnes	QB	SR
Virginia	J’Mari Taylor	RB	SR

The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on November 18. The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2025 winner will be held on December 8, at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, particularly those children who have limited opportunities.

For more information about the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), visit ncfaa.org.