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The Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists

By Paul Myerberg   //   Nov 24, 2011

After yesterday’s diatribe against the voting for one national award, here’s one piece of hardware we can all get behind. It’s the Burlsworth Trophy, recognizing college football’s best player who began his career as a walk-on, and to me, every nominee is a winner. The Trophy is named in honor of former Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Bulsworth, who arrived in Fayetteville as a walk-on in 1994 but, before ending his collegiate career, was named a team captain, first-team all-SEC pick and Arkansas’ first all-American in a decade. Tragically, Bulsworth died in a car accident 11 days after being the 63rd pick in the 1999 N.F.L. Draft.

The award was inaugurated last fall; the winner was Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford, who, as a high school senior, turned down the opportunity for an Ivy League education in favor of walking on with the Yellow Jackets. Bedford capped his career as a two-time all-A.C.C. pick, anchoring a Georgia Tech offensive line that helped the Jackets lead the nation in rushing a season ago.

This year’s 10 semifinalists tout similarly impressive resumes. Each individual selected as a semifinalist has been so good, in fact, that it raises an inevitable question — how in the world did all 10 not land a single F.B.S. scholarship offer coming out of high school? It’s a very good question. The semifinalists:

WR Tyler Shoemaker, Boise State After serving as a secondary receiving option as a sophomore and junior, Shoemaker currently leads the Broncos in receptions (48), receiving yards (800) and touchdowns (14).

OT Mike Remmers, Oregon State A four-year starter — a relative rarity for a scholarship player, let alone a walk-on — Remmers earned honorable mention all-conference honors a season ago.

WR Griff Whalen, Stanford Lightly used prior to last season, Whalen has gone from an overlooked part of Stanford’s passing game to Andrew Luck’s favorite target as a senior.

QB Bryant Moniz, Hawaii Moniz again ranked among the nation’s most prolific passers when his senior season was cut short in Hawaii’s loss to Nevada two weeks ago. As a junior, Moniz threw for an F.B.S.-best 5,040 yards.

WR Patrick Edwards, Houston The program’s all-time leader in receiving yards (3,903) and touchdowns (39), Edwards’s team-leading 1,315 receiving yards thus far in 2011 is good for third in the country.

LB Steven Johnson, Kansas A two-year starter and a current team captain, Johnson currently leads the Big 12 — and is 16th nationally — with 109 tackles.

S Jordan Kovacs, Michigan Often the last line of defenses for a porous Michigan defense, Kovacs finished second in the Big Ten last fall with 116 tackles. Kovacs may be less productive in 2011, but that’s a good sign for Michigan defense.

C Mike Caputo, Nebraska Legendary for its pipeline of in-state walk-ons, Nebraska raised another good one in Caputo, a two-year starter and the Cornhuskers’ best lineman in 2011.

RB Dominique Whaley, Oklahoma Perhaps the best story of the season: Whaley walked-on in Norman, leapfrogged past a half-dozen recruiting stars and grabbed the starting job coming out of August. Lost for the season in October, Whaley’s 627 yards rushing still paces the Sooners.

QB Austin Davis, Southern Mississippi Another four-year starter, Davis’s ability to remain healthy has made a world of difference for one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses.

So who’s the pick? I call a 10-way tie: make 10 trophies, have all 10 come to the award ceremony and applaud them all. But if I had to make a choice, I think I’d go with Edwards. That sort of productivity, especially over a career and particularly for a team having a banner season, is hard to ignore. Whaley would have been a shoo-in, but he’ll end up missing Oklahoma’s final six games.

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Tags: Austin Davis, Bryant Moniz, Burlsworthy Trophy, Dominique Whaley, Griff Whalen, Jordan Kovacs, Mike Caputo, Mike Remmers, Patrick Edwards, Steven Johnson, Tyler Shoemaker

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