TEMPE, Ariz. – Junior long-snapper Mitchell Fraboni has been nominated for the 2016 Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the nation's most outstanding walk-on.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native earned the starting long-snapper job midway through his freshman season in 2015, and has held the position ever since. Fraboni has played in 27 game for the Sun Devils and has played a major role in the record-setting career of senior place kicker Zane Gonzalez.
In the award's seventh year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. The Burlsworth Trophy 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. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with a FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
"This is the seventh year of the Burlsworth Trophy and once again we have a very strong group of nominees" said Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and older brother of Brandon. "All of these young men have worked extremely hard and have overcome tremendous obstacles to become the players they are today."
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became 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 who have limited opportunities.
Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 5th in Springdale, AR to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2016 winner.
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