FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder, Burlsworth Foundation
Burlsworth@cox.net
870-688-3481
Whitney Gaines, Mitchell Communications Group
Whitney.Gaines@mitchcommgroup.com
321-848-1055
Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees
Trophy honors outstanding current and former walk-ons for third year
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., Nov. 13, 2012 – Today, The Burlsworth Trophy and the presenting sponsor, the Springdale (Ark.) Rotary Club, are excited to announce the 50 players nominated for The Burlsworth Trophy. The 2012 list includes team captains, All-Conference selections, and national statistical leaders from every conference in the nation.
The Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. A walk-on is defined as a player who began his first season of participation with a D1 (FBS) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.
The 2011 winner was quarterback, Austin Davis from the University of Southern Mississippi. In his four-year career at USM, Davis amassed 10,727 passing yards, 81 touchdown passes and 12,082 yards in total offense. Davis was drafted this year and is now a reserve quarterback for the St. Louis Rams. The inaugural recipient in 2010 was two-time All-ACC center Sean Bedford from Georgia Tech.
The 2012 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:
Player | Class | Position | School |
Kevin Ozier | SR | Wide Receiver | Arizona State University |
Cole Lorigan | SR | Safety | Arkansas State University |
Jamill Smith | JR | Wide Receiver | Ball State University |
Ezekiel Ansah | SR | Defensive Line | Brigham Young University |
Chandler Catanzaro | JR | Place Kicker | Clemson University |
James Skelton | SR | Linebacker | Colorado State University |
Garrett Rider | JR | Safety | Duke University |
Tristan Okpalaugo | SR | Outside Linebacker | Fresno State University |
B.J. Finney | Soph | Offensive Line | Kansas State University |
B.J. Finney | Soph | Offensive Line | Kansas State University |
Norman Wolfe | SR | Cornerback | Kent State University |
Jeremiah Taylor | JR | Defensive End | Marshall University |
Anthony Amos | SR | Wide Receiver | Middle Tennessee State University |
Chris Salvi | SR | Safety | Notre Dame |
Keith Moore | JR | Linebacker | Ohio University |
Bryson Rose | SR | Place Kicker | Ole Miss |
Andrew Seumalo | SR | Defensive Tackle | Oregon State University |
Matt McGloin | SR | Quarterback | Pennsylvania State University |
Jamael Thomas | SR | Defensive Tackle | Rice University |
Michael Burton | Soph | Fullback | Rutgers University |
David Quessenberry | SR | Offensive Tackle | San Jose State University |
Joel Hasley | Soph | Linebacker | Texas Christian University |
Andrew Abbott | SR | Strong Safety | UCLA |
Carson Tinker | SR | Deep Snapper | University of Alabama |
Trey Clark | SR | Offensive Line | University of South Alabama |
Jared Tevis | Soph | Safety | University of Arizona |
Dylan Breeding | SR | Punter | University of Arkansas |
Kyle Negrete | SR | Punter | University of Southern California |
Ryan Iverson | JR | Deep Snapper | University of Colorado |
Johnny McEntee | SR | Quarterback | University of Connecticut |
Shane Ros | JR | Wide Receiver | University of Houston |
Bobby Cowan | SR | Punter | University of Idaho |
Mike Meyer | JR | Place Kicker | University of Iowa |
Craig McIntosh | SR | Place Kicker | University of Kentucky |
Alex Kupper | SR | Offensive Tackle | University of Louisville |
Mitchell Bailey | SR | Running Back | University of Louisiana at Monroe |
Mitch Huelsing | SR | Defensive Back | University of Memphis |
Jordan Kovacs | JR | Safety | University of Michigan |
Max Copeland | JR | Offensive Line | University of Missouri |
Spencer Long | JR | Offensive Guard | University of Nebraska |
Matt Raymer | SR | Strong Safety | University of New Mexico |
Pete Mangum | SR | Defensive Back | University of North Carolina |
Dominique Whaley | SR | Running Back | University of Oklahoma |
Alex King | SR | Punter | University of Texas |
J. Lindeman | SR | Offensive Line | University of Toledo |
Jared St. John | SR | Defensive End | University of Tulsa |
Jared Abbrederis | JR | Wide Receiver | University of Wisconsin |
Devon Walker | SR | Safety | Tulane University |
McKade Brady | SR | Free Safety | Utah State |
Spencer Bishop | JR | Tight End | Wake Forest University |
Eric Monette | SR | Wide Receiver | Western Michigan University |