Article Courtesy:
Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder, Burlsworth Foundation
Burlsworth@cox.net
Whitney Gaines, Mitchell Communications Group
Whitney.Gaines@mitchcommgroup.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- 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
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
ULM
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
A.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
"We are extremely proud
of this group of nominees for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy," said Marty
Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and brother of
Brandon. "All of these young men have worked very hard to get to where they
are. The stories behind these players are incredible and they are all winners
in my book."
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked
on to 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, in particular those children that have limited opportunities.
Springdale Rotary Club will host a banquet on Dec. 3 in
Springdale, Ark. to honor the finalists and to announce the 2012
winner.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit www.burlsworthtrophy.com.
