Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees Nov. 5, 2024

Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees

Trophy honors most outstanding walk-on for fifteenth year

FAYETTEVILLE, AR, Nov. 5, 2024 – Today, the Burlsworth Trophy announced 78 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award’s fifteenth 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 2023 winner was running back Cody Schrader from the University of Missouri. After dominating at Truman (Mo.) State, Schrader transferred to Missouri where he contributed immediately. In 2023, he rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning him First-Team All-America by the Associated Press and First-Team All-SEC by the Associated Press and the coaches.

Schrader was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He’s currently a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

The 2024 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:

“The walk-on athlete is an integral part of college football, it’s in the very fabric of the game,” said Marty Burlsworth,President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. “All of these nominees have embraced this opportunity and made the very most of it. It’s certainly not an easy path, but through hard work and determination, they have made 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 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.

The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2024 winner will be on December 9, at 7:00pm CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

For more information about the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), visit ncfaa.org.