Burlsworth Trophy Announces Top Three Finalists Nov, 18, 2025

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Nov. 18, 2025 – The three finalists for the 16th annual Burlsworth Trophy have been selected and include University of North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker, University of Oklahoma offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu and University of Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe. A total of 79 universities from across the nation nominated a player for the 2025 award. Last week the list was narrowed to10 semi-finalists. The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.

Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy will be December 8, at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The 2025 finalists:

Drew Mestemaker, University of North Texas, RS-Freshman, Quarterback

Drew Mestemaker may be college football’s biggest surprise of the 2025 season — and his breakout year is propelling North Texas to heights the program hasn’t seen in more than six decades.

As of Nov. 16, the redshirt freshman has thrown for 3,000 yards with 23 touchdowns against just four interceptions, emerging as the driving force behind the Mean Green’s surge into the national spotlight. His steady play and explosive production helped North Texas break into the AP Top 25 on Sunday, Nov. 16 — their first appearance in the poll since 1959.

In a 54-20 win over Charlotte on Oct. 24, Mestemaker passed for an American Conference record 608 yards and four touchdowns.

Mestemaker, a 6-foot-4, 211-pounder from Austin, Texas, passed for 26-for-36 for 249 yards and a touchdown in a 45-39 overtime win at Army.

As a redshirt in 2024, Mestemaker, who earned accolades as a safety and punter Vandergrift High School, appeared in five games with one start, completing 30 of 46 passes for 462 yards and two touchdowns. He added 87 rushing yards and another score on 14 carries. His season began modestly with a brief debut at Texas Tech, where he threw for 56 yards and rushed for 26. He saw limited action again against Wyoming.

But everything changed in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

Pressed into his first career start, Mestemaker, who delivered one of the most electric performances of the entire 2024–25 bowl season, piling up 448 yards of total offense — tied for the most by any player that postseason. He completed 26 of 41 passes for 393 yards and two touchdowns and added nine rushes for 55 yards, including a stunning 70-yard touchdown run that introduced him to the nation.

That performance served as a preview of what was coming. Now, just a year later, Mestemaker is not only the centerpiece of the Mean Green offense — he’s the engine behind one of college football’s most compelling storylines.

Febechi Nwaiwu, University of Oklahoma – Redshirt Senior, Offensive Line

Febechi Nwaiwu has come a long way since walking on at the University of North Texas in the fall of 2021. After a strong prep career at Coppell (Texas) High School, he received a scholarship offer from FCS Illinois State and several walk-on opportunities, ultimately choosing North Texas. He redshirted, developed quickly, and became one of the Mean Green’s most dependable linemen, earning freshman All-America honors and producing two strong seasons before transferring to Oklahoma — where he made an immediate impact.

Now a 6-foot-4, 326-pound anchor on the Sooners’ offensive front, Nwaiwu is the only Oklahoma offensive player to have started every game over the past two seasons. His consistency and work ethic have earned praise from the coaching staff, and he has become known for staying after practice to work with younger teammates, a habit that reflects his leadership and commitment to the program.

In 2024, he started all 13 games at right guard and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his dominant performance in the win over No. 7 Alabama (Nov. 23). In that game, Oklahoma rushed for 257 yards — the most allowed by the Crimson Tide in 26 contests.

Before arriving in Norman, Nwaiwu appeared in 10 games with seven starts for North Texas in 2023, opening the season with seven consecutive starts on the right side before missing two games due to injury. His breakout season came in 2022, when he was named a freshman All-American by both The Athletic and College Football News and earned All-Conference USA recognition from league coaches, PFF and Phil Steele. He started 12 of 14 games and helped fuel a North Texas offense that ranked among the nation’s best in rushing and total offense, including a school-record 475 rushing yards against Louisiana Tech.

Michael Taaffe, University of Texas — Redshirt Senior, Defensive Back

Burnt orange runs in Michael Taaffe’s blood. A fifth-generation Longhorn and former standout at Texas powerhouse Austin Westlake, Taaffe turned down other opportunities and joined Texas as a walk-on simply because he never wanted to play anywhere else. He quickly proved he belonged, appearing in 13 games and earning one start as a redshirt freshman before being awarded a scholarship ahead of the Alamo Bowl.

Now a fifth-year defensive back with 50 career games and 33 starts, Taaffe has become one of Texas’ most dependable and decorated defenders. A 2025 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist, he entered the season on watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. His résumé already features AP Second Team All-America honors, SEC Defensive Player of the Week recognition and multiple academic awards.

Before his late-October injury in 2025, Taaffe started seven straight games and opened the season with consistent production, including nine tackles at Ohio State, eight against San Jose State, an interception at Florida and 10 tackles at Kentucky.

His breakout came in 2024, when he became a cornerstone of a Texas defense that powered the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff. He posted 78 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two sacks while starting all 16 games. Some of his top performances came in marquee matchups, highlighted by nine tackles against Georgia, a forced fumble and interception at Vanderbilt, and a postseason surge capped by a career-high 10 tackles in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Taaffe also produced a strong sophomore campaign, recording 48 tackles and three interceptions — including picks in three straight games, making him the first Longhorn since 2017 to do so.

Past Burlsworth Trophy winners include:

• 2024 – Bryce Boettcher, Linebacker – Oregon
• 2023 – Cody Schrader, Running Back – Missouri
• 2022 – Stetson Bennett, Quarterback – Georgia
• 2021 – Grant Morgan, Linebacker – Arkansas
• 2020 – Jimmy Morrissey, Center – Pittsburgh
• 2019 – Kenny Willekes, Defensive End – Michigan State
• 2018 – Hunter Renfrow, Receiver – Clemson
• 2017 – Luke Falk, Quarterback – Washington State
• 2016 – Baker Mayfield, Quarterback – Oklahoma
• 2015 – Baker Mayfield, Quarterback – Oklahoma
• 2014 – Justin Hardy, Receiver – East Carolina
• 2013 – Jared Abbrederis, Receiver – Wisconsin
• 2012 – Matt McGloin, Quarterback – Penn State
• 2011 – Austin Davis, Quarterback – Southern Miss
• 2010 – Sean Bedford, Center – Georgia Tech

About the Burlsworth Trophy 
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without a D1 scholarship offer, Brandon walked onto 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 a full narrative of the Foundation’s work, visit brandonburlsworth.org.

About the National College Football Awards Association
The Burlsworth Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 24 awards now boast over 900 recipients, dating to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on X.com to learn more about the association.