Nine SEC players, including Auburn’s Will Hastings, Missouri’s Dawson Downing and Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, are among 83 football players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy. According to its official website, the Burlsworth Trophy, named after late Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth, 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”
A converted kicker, Hastings has 12 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown this season. Last year, he recorded 26 receptions for 525 yards and 4 touchdowns. Downing has made an impact on the Missouri offense, rushing for 213 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries. Blankenship, a fan favorite in Athens, is 15-of-17 on field goals and a perfect 31-of-31 on extra points. For his career, he has attempted 185 extra points and converted all of them, while making good on 68-of-81 field goals.
Here’s a look at all SEC players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy:
Arkansas: Connor Limpert, K
Auburn: Will Hastings, WR
Georgia: Rodrigo Blankenship, PK
Kentucky: Blake Best, LS
Ole Miss: Mac Brown, P
Mississippi State: Kody Schexnayder, H/P
Missouri: Dawson Downing, RB
South Carolina: Parker White, PK
Texas A&M: Braden White, LB
The 3 finalists, and winner, will be announced on Dec. 9 at the Springdale Rotary Club in Springdale, Ark.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
