Burlsworth Trophy Announces 2013 Nominees

Updated: November 13, 2012

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

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

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.