“He's one of my favorite people on the team, really just a solid, stand-up guy,” said 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. “I've been lobbying for him since I became a starter to try and get him on the field because I thought he was a special talent, and so far he's proven that this year. He goes out there every week and makes the most of every opportunity he gets. There's really no other way to put it than just going out and balling every week.”
A prep standout in multiple sports at tiny Whitesboro High School near Dallas, Labhart first tried to continue his athletic career on the hardwood with the Texas A&M basketball team, but he was cut. Looking to stay involved he joined the male practice team for the 2011 Aggie women's basketball team, which went on to win the NCAA Championship. His next stop was as a walk-on for the Aggie football team where he joined the likes of Manziel and Mike Evans on the scout team.
After two seasons of sporadic action but no catches for the Aggies, Labhart has worked his way into the starting lineup as a senior. He has emerged as one of Manziel's favorite targets and currently ranks fourth on the team with 33 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns. Since moving into the main rotation five games ago, Labhart has reeled in 30 catches for 390 yards and four scores. He had his career high in catches with eight against Ole Miss and his first-ever 100-yard receiving game with 102 vs. Mississippi State last week. He's had a pair of receiving touchdowns in each of the past two games. In addition, he's one of the Aggies' main punt returners with 57 yards on five returns.
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on to the Arkansas Razorbacks 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 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.
“The 2013 class of Burlsworth Trophy nominees are an outstanding group of young men,” said Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and brother of Brandon. “They represent their schools well and embody everything that the Burlsworth Trophy stands for: hard word, dedication and a commitment to excellence.”
2013 Burlsworth Trophy nominees
Player, Class, Position, School
Cody Mandell, Senior, Punter, Alabama
Jared Tevis, Junior, Safety, Arizona
Gannon Conway, Senior, Defensive tackle, Arizona State
Alan D'Appollonio, Junior, Snapper, Arkansas
Charleston Girley, Sophomore, Defensive back, Arkansas State
Trent Fisher, Junior, Safety, Auburn
Jamill Smith, Senior, Wide receiver, Ball State
Clay Fuller, Junior, Wide receiver, Baylor
Ryan Burbrink, Sophomore, Wide receiver, Bowling Green
JD Falslev, Senior, Wide receiver, BYU
Brandon Alexander, Junior, Safety, Central Florida
Justin Cherocci, Junior, Linebacker, Central Michigan
Chandler Catanzaro, Senior, Kicker, Clemson
Ryan Iverson, Senior, Snapper, Colorado
Jared Roberts, Junior, Kicker, Colorado State
Cole Wagner, Senior, Punter, Connecticut
Justin Hardy, Junior, Wide receiver, East Carolina
Jonathan Norton, Senior, Defensive back, Fresno State
Jonathan Wallace, Senior, Running back, Florida Atlantic
Robert Godhigh, Senior, Running back, Georgia Tech
Luke Stice, Sophomore, Fullback, Houston
Mike Meyer, Senior, Kicker, Iowa
Ryan Mueller, Junior, Defensive end, Kansas State
Casey Pierce, Junior, Tight end, Kent State
Kelly Mason, Sophomore, Snapper, Kentucky
Seth Fruge, Senior, Linebacker, LSU
Chris Jasperse, Junior, Center, Marshall
Brandon Hayes, Senior, Running back, Memphis
Jordan Holder, Senior, Wide receiver, Mississippi
Max Copeland, Senior, Guard, Missouri
Spencer Long, Senior, Guard, Nebraska
Davis Cazares, Senior, Safety, New Mexico State
Zach Gentry, Senior, Linebacker, North Carolina State
Craig Cataline, Junior, Linebacker, Ohio State
Aaron Ripkowski, Junior, Fullback, Oklahoma
Michael Kutzler, Senior, Linebacker, Rice
Chad Young, Senior, Fullback, San Diego State,
Chandler Jones, Senior, Wide receiver, San Jose State
Sidney Rhodes, Junior, Cornerback, South Carolina
Marvin Kloss, Junior, Kicker, South Florida
David Parry, Senior, Defensive tackle, Stanford
Jon Koontz, Senior, Defensive end, TCU
Cody Booth, Senior, Tackle, Temple
Travis Labhart, Senior, Wide receiver, Texas A&M
Steven Kurfehs, Senior, Linebacker, Texas-San Antonio
Charlie Will Tuttle, Junior, Center, Texas State
Baker Mayfield, Freshman, Quarterback, Texas Tech
Trey Watts, Senior, Running back, Tulsa
Jake Doughty, Senior, Linebacker, Utah State
Jack Tyler, Senior, Linebacker, Virginia Tech
Spencer Bishop, Senior, Tight end, Wake Forest
Elliott Bosch, Senior, Center, Washington State
Jared Abbrederis, Senior, Wide receiver, Wisconsin