Burlsworth Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Burlsworth Trophy is an award given annually by the Rotary Club
of Springdale, Arkansas
to the most outstanding college football
player who began his career as a walk-on.
, who walked on to the University of Arkansas
in 1994 after receiving no Division 1 scholarship offers. Through his unbelievable work ethic and ceaseless determination, Brandon not only earned a scholarship, but became team captain, All-SEC 1997-1998, First Team All-SEC 1998, Football News First Team All-American in 1998, and the first All-American from the University of Arkansas in a decade.
Burlsworth was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 1995–1998, and was the first football player in the entire history of his university to earn a Masters degree before playing his last game.
Brandon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts
as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft
. After mini camp, he was projected by his coaches to start as a rookie. Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas
on his way back to his hometown of Harrison, Arkansas
one night after a workout in Fayetteville
.
In 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy was created to honor the achievements and successes of the Walk-On athlete.
Nominees are limited to players from universities in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) who must have completed their first entire season of active participation as a member of the football team without financial assistance of any kind from their university’s athletic department. Players will be eligible if they have received financial support from the athletic department of a school from a division lower than FBS before transferring to an FBS school.
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Springdale, Arkansas
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
to the most outstanding college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player who began his career as a walk-on.
Eponym
The award is named in the honor of Brandon BurlsworthBrandon burlsworth
Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1996-1998...
, who walked on to the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in 1994 after receiving no Division 1 scholarship offers. Through his unbelievable work ethic and ceaseless determination, Brandon not only earned a scholarship, but became team captain, All-SEC 1997-1998, First Team All-SEC 1998, Football News First Team All-American in 1998, and the first All-American from the University of Arkansas in a decade.
Burlsworth was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 1995–1998, and was the first football player in the entire history of his university to earn a Masters degree before playing his last game.
Brandon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. After mini camp, he was projected by his coaches to start as a rookie. Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas
Alpena, Arkansas
Alpena is a town in Boone and Carroll counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 371 at the 2000 census.The Boone County portion of Alpena is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
on his way back to his hometown of Harrison, Arkansas
Harrison, Arkansas
Harrison is a city in Boone County, Arkansas, United States. It is the county seat. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 13,108. Boone County was organized in 1869, during reconstruction after the civil war. Harrison was platted and made the county seat. It is...
one night after a workout in Fayetteville
Fayetteville
Fayetteville is the name of a number of places in the United States of America. Many are named for General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who fought under General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War....
.
In 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy was created to honor the achievements and successes of the Walk-On athlete.
Eligibility criteria
For the purposes of the Burlsworth Trophy, “walk-on” is defined as a player who begins their football career with no financial assistance or aid of any kind from their university’s athletic department.Nominees are limited to players from universities in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) who must have completed their first entire season of active participation as a member of the football team without financial assistance of any kind from their university’s athletic department. Players will be eligible if they have received financial support from the athletic department of a school from a division lower than FBS before transferring to an FBS school.
Winners
| Year | Player | Position | | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for... |
Sean Bedford Sean Bedford Sean Boudreau Bedford is the starting football center for Osos de Madrid, a Spanish football team in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano. He was the starting college football center for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He majored in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech... |
C Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |