Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees

Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees 

Trophy honors most outstanding former Walk-On for fourteenth year 

FAYETTEVILLE, AR, Oct. 31, 2023 – Today, the Burlsworth Trophy announced 73 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award’s fourteenth year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER”, which was released in 2016.  The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.

The 2022 winner was quarterback Stetson Bennett from the University of Georgia. After earning MVP honors in the CFP Championship game win against Alabama in 2022, Stetson had another banner season in his final year in Athens. He was named the offensive MVP of the CFP Championship game, where Georgia beat TCU, 65-7 to remain undefeated on the year and win the National Championship. Bennett tied former LSU Tiger Joe Burrow for most total touchdowns in a CFP Championship game with 6. He finished the season with 4,127 passing yards, establishing the new program record.

The 2023 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:

“Once again, a tremendous group of former walk-on players are up for the Burlsworth Trophy”, said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. “These young men have not only shown their diligence, but they had to work extra hard just for the opportunity to contribute to their teams. They did it the Burls Way, they earned it!”

Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became 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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2023 winner will be on December 4, at 7:00pm CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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