Award recognizes the most outstanding collegiate player that began their career as a walk-on
TAMPA, Nov. 7, 2023 – Graduate wide receiver Sean Atkins (Viera) has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy, recognizing the most outstanding player from Division I (FBS) football who began their career as a walk-on.
Atkins is the only semifinalist from the American Athletic Conference and one of two nationally that do not play for a program in the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12 or SEC. The 2022 winner was quarterback Stetson Bennett from the University of Georgia.
In his fifth season as a Bull, Atkins earned a scholarship prior to the start of the 2021 season and has gone on to become first the team’s third-leading receiver in 2022 (19 catches, 238 yards, 3 touchdowns) before elevating to the team’s number one target in 2023. His current career-best year has the 5-10 receiver on pace to break USF’s single-season receptions record (67, set in 2016 by Rodney Adams) and possibly challenge for the single-season receiving yards record (879, set in 2017 by Marquez Valdes-Scantling).
Atkins has 60 receptions, 639 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns after nine games to lead the Bulls. His 6.7 receptions per game ranks third in The American and 14th nationally. He has collected four or more catches and 42-plus yards in every game on the season and has logged five games with seven or more, including his last four outings in which he has totaled 32 receptions (8.0 per game). He has led USF in receptions in six games and in receiving yards in four, including a career-best 116 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Navy, which included an 88-yard touchdown reception.
The other nine semifinalists are: B.J. Green, DL, Arizona State; Joe Evans, DL, Iowa; James Carpenter, G, James Madison; Austin Moore, LB, Kansas State; Cody Schrader, RB, Missouri; Drake Stoops, WR, Oklahoma; Jake Springfield, OT, Oklahoma State; Bryson Barnes, QB, Utah; and Kyle Thornton, LB, Washington State.
In the award’s fourteenth year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. 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 Bulls (4-5; 2-3 AAC) will return to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday for a noon kickoff vs. Temple (3-6; 1-4 AAC). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on 102.5 FM and Bulls Unlimited on TuneIn radio.
Secure your seats for the 2023 season by calling or texting 1-800-GoBulls or by visiting USFBULLSTIX.com. All tickets are once again dynamically priced for each game based on demand and are subject to change. Tickets can be purchased online at USFBullsTix.com, by calling/texting 1-800-GoBulls or using the direct links below.
Single-game tickets
Group tickets (10+): call 1-800-GoBulls
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 26th season in 2022 while completing construction on a new $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American kick returner Brian Battie, and had 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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