Photo by: Maria Lysaker / Rice University
Marshman Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
12/9/2020 1:45:00 PM | Football
Honors the top walk-on in college football
Rice senior quarterback Evan Marshman is among 67 players nominated from FBS schools from across the country for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the top player who began his career as a walk-on.
Marshman, who will participate in Senior Day on Saturday at Rice Stadium, joined the Owls in 2017 after earning All-SPC honors at Houston Christian. He worked his way into contention for playing time in 2018, making his debut vs. Hawai'i on special teams. He took his first snaps at quarterback vs. UAB, completing six of 16 passes for 57 yards and was pressed into the starter's role the following week at FIU. He led the Owls on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive on the first possession of the game, capping it with a seven-yard TD run. He added a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter before departing the game with an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He finished the game completing 11 of 15 passes for 107 yards along with 68 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns.
Now in its 11th year, award 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 awarded 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 football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
The 2019 winner was defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State University. After receiving no division one scholarship offers, Willekes walked-on at Michigan State, where he became All-American, the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Michigan State's all-time leader in tackles for loss (51). The 2018 winner was Clemson's Hunter Renfrow, who had 186 receptions for 2133 yards and 15 touchdowns, four of which were in national championship games.
Rice will wrap up the abbreviated 2020 home football schedule on Saturday at noon against UAB. The game will be available on ESPN 3.
Marshman, who will participate in Senior Day on Saturday at Rice Stadium, joined the Owls in 2017 after earning All-SPC honors at Houston Christian. He worked his way into contention for playing time in 2018, making his debut vs. Hawai'i on special teams. He took his first snaps at quarterback vs. UAB, completing six of 16 passes for 57 yards and was pressed into the starter's role the following week at FIU. He led the Owls on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive on the first possession of the game, capping it with a seven-yard TD run. He added a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter before departing the game with an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He finished the game completing 11 of 15 passes for 107 yards along with 68 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns.
Now in its 11th year, award 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 awarded 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 football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
The 2019 winner was defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State University. After receiving no division one scholarship offers, Willekes walked-on at Michigan State, where he became All-American, the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Michigan State's all-time leader in tackles for loss (51). The 2018 winner was Clemson's Hunter Renfrow, who had 186 receptions for 2133 yards and 15 touchdowns, four of which were in national championship games.
Rice will wrap up the abbreviated 2020 home football schedule on Saturday at noon against UAB. The game will be available on ESPN 3.
Players Mentioned
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