Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees Nov. 4, 2025

Fayetteville, AR, Nov. 4, 2025 – Today, the Burlsworth Trophy announces 79 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award’s 16^th 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 2024 winner was linebacker Bryce Boettcher from the University of Oregon. Boettcher led then number 1 Oregon with 94 total tackles, including a team-high 50 solo takedowns. Before walking on to the football program, he was an Oregon baseball walk-on where he won a gold glove in 2024.

Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13^th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Boettcher was granted a final season of eligibility and returned for the 2025 football season.

The 2025 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:

“Even with all the changes in college football, the walk-on athlete is still enormously impactful,” said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. “All of these nominees have a passion for the game and that passion can spread throughout a team. That’s what makes these guys special. College football is what it is today because of players that had a dream and were willing to put in the work to make their dreams come true.”

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 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 options.

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