FAYETTEVILLE,
Ark. --- Texas A&M outside linebacker Caleb Russell is one of 50
players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, the Springdale (Ark.)
Rotary Club announced. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most
outstanding football player in America who began his career as a
walk-on.
Russell, a junior sport management major from Midlothian, Texas, has started three games at the Aggies' "joker" position and seen action in every game. He's contributed 25 tackles, including 15 solo stops, and has also been one of the Aggies' most consistent pass rushers. Coming off the edge, Russell has two quarterback sacks and two more QB hurries.
Â
A non-scholarship player at A&M for his first two seasons, Russell was surprised earlier this fall when Aggie head coach Mike Sherman rewarded his hard work and perseverance with a scholarship prior to the season-opener with SMU. During his career, Russell has twice earned the honor of serving as Texas A&M's 12th Man, including this year against SMU.
Â
"He has a tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage," Sherman said. "He's using his hands extremely well and he's very difficult when he's playing over a tight end-he causes our tight ends a lot of havoc-because he's so strong. He still has a way to go as a football player, but he's made so much progress, it's not even funny how far he's come."
Â
The 2011 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:
Player, Class, Position, School
Will Lowery, JR, Defensive Back, Alabama
John Bonano, SR, Kicker, Arizona
Cameron Kastl, SR, Long Snapper, Arizona State
Dylan Breeding, JR, Punter, Arkansas
Tyler Shoemaker, SR, Wide Receiver, Boise State
Jameson Frazier, SR, Outside Linebacker, Brigham Young
Ronnie Weaver, SR, Running Back, Central Florida
Philip Price, SR, Offensive Tackle, Clemson
Travis Sandersfeld, SR, Defensive Back, Colorado
James Skelton, JR, Linebacker, Colorado State
Johnny McEntee, JR, Quarterback, Connecticut
Alex King, SR, Punter, Duke
Andrew Bodenheimer, JR, Outside Receiver, East Carolina
David Lerner, SR, Punter, Florida
Marcus Bartels, SR, Safety, Florida Atlantic
Bryant Moniz, SR, Quarterback, Hawaii
Patrick Edwards, SR, Wide Receiver, Houston
Derek Dimke, SR, Kicker, Illinois
Tom Nardo, SR, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
Steven Johnson, SR, Linebacker, Kansas
B.J. Finney, FR, Center, Kansas State
Lee Stalker, SR, Defensive Lineman, Kent State
Craig McIntosh, JR, Kicker, Kentucky
Jeremiah Taylor, SOPH, Defensive End, Marshall
Mitch Huelsing, JR, Safety, Memphis
Jordan Kovacs, JR, Safety, Michigan
Anthony Amos, JR, Wide Receiver, Middle Tennessee
Bryson Rose, JR, Kicker, Mississippi
Brandon Wilson, JR, Linebacker, Mississippi State
Trey Barrow, JR, Punter/Place Kicker, Missouri
Mike Caputo, SR, Offensive Lineman, Nebraska
David Ruffer, SR, Kicker, Notre Dame
Nate Ebner, SR, Defensive Back, Ohio State
Dominique Whaley, JR, Running Back, Oklahoma
Mike Remmers, SR, Left Tackle, Oregon State
Chas Alecxih, SR, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Kevin Ballinger, SR, Long Snapper, Purdue
Matt Nordstrom, SR, Linebacker, Rice
Chandler Jones, SOPH, Wide Receiver, San Jose State
Dalton Wilson, JR, Fullback, South Carolina
Gilbert "Chaz" Hine, SR, Center, South Florida
Austin Davis, SR, Quarterback, Southern Mississippi
Griff Whalen, SR, Wide Receiver, Stanford
Caleb Russell, JR, Linebacker, Texas A&M
Wesley Miller, FR, Safety, UTEP
A.J. Lindeman, JR, Offensive Lineman, Toledo
Trey Watts, SOPH, Running Back, Tulsa
Ross Cumming, SR, Fullback, USC
Andrew Abbott, JR, Cornerback, UCLA
Jared Abbrederis, SOPH, Wide Receiver, Wisconsin
The Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without any Division 1 scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks team in 1994, worked his way to being 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 that have limited opportunities.
Â
"With the Burlsworth Trophy only in its second year, the award has become exactly what we envisioned. We are thrilled to see not only the quality of the young men and their work ethics, but these guys are incredible players," said Marty Burlsworth, Brandon's brother, and also chairman and CEO of both The Burlsworth Foundation and The Burlsworth Trophy. "Each player has contributed greatly to his team and we look forward to getting to know the stories behind each one of this year's nominees."Â
Russell, a junior sport management major from Midlothian, Texas, has started three games at the Aggies' "joker" position and seen action in every game. He's contributed 25 tackles, including 15 solo stops, and has also been one of the Aggies' most consistent pass rushers. Coming off the edge, Russell has two quarterback sacks and two more QB hurries.
Â
A non-scholarship player at A&M for his first two seasons, Russell was surprised earlier this fall when Aggie head coach Mike Sherman rewarded his hard work and perseverance with a scholarship prior to the season-opener with SMU. During his career, Russell has twice earned the honor of serving as Texas A&M's 12th Man, including this year against SMU.
Â
"He has a tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage," Sherman said. "He's using his hands extremely well and he's very difficult when he's playing over a tight end-he causes our tight ends a lot of havoc-because he's so strong. He still has a way to go as a football player, but he's made so much progress, it's not even funny how far he's come."
Â
The 2011 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:
Player, Class, Position, School
Will Lowery, JR, Defensive Back, Alabama
John Bonano, SR, Kicker, Arizona
Cameron Kastl, SR, Long Snapper, Arizona State
Dylan Breeding, JR, Punter, Arkansas
Tyler Shoemaker, SR, Wide Receiver, Boise State
Jameson Frazier, SR, Outside Linebacker, Brigham Young
Ronnie Weaver, SR, Running Back, Central Florida
Philip Price, SR, Offensive Tackle, Clemson
Travis Sandersfeld, SR, Defensive Back, Colorado
James Skelton, JR, Linebacker, Colorado State
Johnny McEntee, JR, Quarterback, Connecticut
Alex King, SR, Punter, Duke
Andrew Bodenheimer, JR, Outside Receiver, East Carolina
David Lerner, SR, Punter, Florida
Marcus Bartels, SR, Safety, Florida Atlantic
Bryant Moniz, SR, Quarterback, Hawaii
Patrick Edwards, SR, Wide Receiver, Houston
Derek Dimke, SR, Kicker, Illinois
Tom Nardo, SR, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
Steven Johnson, SR, Linebacker, Kansas
B.J. Finney, FR, Center, Kansas State
Lee Stalker, SR, Defensive Lineman, Kent State
Craig McIntosh, JR, Kicker, Kentucky
Jeremiah Taylor, SOPH, Defensive End, Marshall
Mitch Huelsing, JR, Safety, Memphis
Jordan Kovacs, JR, Safety, Michigan
Anthony Amos, JR, Wide Receiver, Middle Tennessee
Bryson Rose, JR, Kicker, Mississippi
Brandon Wilson, JR, Linebacker, Mississippi State
Trey Barrow, JR, Punter/Place Kicker, Missouri
Mike Caputo, SR, Offensive Lineman, Nebraska
David Ruffer, SR, Kicker, Notre Dame
Nate Ebner, SR, Defensive Back, Ohio State
Dominique Whaley, JR, Running Back, Oklahoma
Mike Remmers, SR, Left Tackle, Oregon State
Chas Alecxih, SR, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Kevin Ballinger, SR, Long Snapper, Purdue
Matt Nordstrom, SR, Linebacker, Rice
Chandler Jones, SOPH, Wide Receiver, San Jose State
Dalton Wilson, JR, Fullback, South Carolina
Gilbert "Chaz" Hine, SR, Center, South Florida
Austin Davis, SR, Quarterback, Southern Mississippi
Griff Whalen, SR, Wide Receiver, Stanford
Caleb Russell, JR, Linebacker, Texas A&M
Wesley Miller, FR, Safety, UTEP
A.J. Lindeman, JR, Offensive Lineman, Toledo
Trey Watts, SOPH, Running Back, Tulsa
Ross Cumming, SR, Fullback, USC
Andrew Abbott, JR, Cornerback, UCLA
Jared Abbrederis, SOPH, Wide Receiver, Wisconsin
The Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without any Division 1 scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks team in 1994, worked his way to being 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 that have limited opportunities.
Â
"With the Burlsworth Trophy only in its second year, the award has become exactly what we envisioned. We are thrilled to see not only the quality of the young men and their work ethics, but these guys are incredible players," said Marty Burlsworth, Brandon's brother, and also chairman and CEO of both The Burlsworth Foundation and The Burlsworth Trophy. "Each player has contributed greatly to his team and we look forward to getting to know the stories behind each one of this year's nominees."Â