BENTONVILLE, Ark. — On Monday, Dec. 6 night, Arkansas senior Grant Morgan became the first Razorback to win the Burlsworth Trophy in program history. The award is given to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.
The other two finalists included Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett and Troy linebacker Carlton Martial.
Morgan, who began his career at Arkansas as a walk-on in 2016, has anchored the Razorback defense in 2021. The senior captain has 38 solo tackles on the season, along with an interception.
In 2020, Morgan was one of the best defenders in all of college football. The Greenwood native had a team-best 111 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss, with 2.0 sacks. Morgan was a Burlsworth Trophy finalist in 2020 as well, but Pitt offensive lineman Jimmy Morrissey took home the award.
The Burlsworth Trophy, in its 12th year, is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American. With no D1 scholarship offers, Burlsworth walked on at Arkansas in 1994, eventually becoming a three-year starter on the offensive line and an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later.