The award recognizes the most outstanding walk-on in college football.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Florida kicker Adah Mihalek was named as a Burlsworth Trophoy Nominee, the Burlsworth Foundation announced on Tuesday.
The redshirt freshman earned the starting kicking job after camp earlier this fall, and hit a career-long 52-yard field goal in the game against Georgia last Saturday. He has hit two field goals of 50 yards or more this season, not including a 52-yarder he drilled during the spring game back in April.
Mihalek, a product of Tampa, Florida, is a perfect 27/27 on extra points this season, and opted to walk-on at Florida after considering offers from Army and Navy.
“I always wanted to play at a big school,” Mihalek said. “I wanted to play in the SEC. The SEC is pretty awesome. I really love the Gators.”
In the award’s thirteenth 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.
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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2022 winner will be held on December 5th.
