The Walk On

The heartwarming story of the underdog turned hero is one that we can’t help but love. We root for the hard worker to get the raise, the nice guy to get the girl, the 16 seed to win March Madness, and most importantly, we root for the walk-on, who might just have a shot at getting a scholarship. These stories make us see that sometimes, if we’re lucky, our hard work and persistence will pay off. But one story sticks out in the world of college football and that is the story of Brandon Burlsworth.

Brandon started playing football in high school. His goal was to one day play ball for The Arkansas Razorbacks. His duty on his high school team was to work hard at practice and hold down the bench on Friday nights. He did not play in one game his sophomore year. But Brandon’s goal had not diminished, he knew that if he wanted to play for Arkansas he would need to actually play. Thankfully, he had two things going for him the summer before his junior year: a strong work ethic, and a large growth spurt. By spending most of his time in the locker room, Brandon started his junior year at a staggering 6’2 and was well over 200 pounds. The fans started to see more of the Burlsworth boy, and he did not disappoint. His senior year he was named all-conference and all-state. He participated in the states all-star game. Brandon was good, there was no doubt about that, but not quite good enough to be awarded a scholarship from The University of Arkansas. The Burlsworth family could not afford a four-year college without a scholarship. Even so, this would not suffice for Brandon. His goal was to be a Razorback, and his family would do whatever it took to get him there.

Marty Burlsworth, Brandon’s older brother by 16 years, was driven to help Brandon’s dream come true. He made multiple phone calls to the university and through his persistence, Brandon was invited to be a walk on. His mother took out a second mortgage which would allow Brandon to go to school for one year. One year. Brandon had one year to prove himself to the coaches and to the team that he deserved a scholarship. Yet, Brandon gained himself a redshirt and no chance of play time his freshman year. Knowing he needed a scholarship, Burlsworth worked harder than any player on the team to prove himself. He would be the first one at the practice field and the very last to leave. Towards the end of the 1995 season, Brandon Burlsworth was awarded a full-ride scholarship to play football at The University of Arkansas and started the next three years.

During his time as a starter, Brandon wore all the hats. He was named team captain, All-SEC ‘95-’97, First Team All-SEC ’98, and First Team All American ’98. He was the first All American from The University of Arkansas in a decade. But Brandon cared about more things than just football. He was a devout Christian and led a small group of his teammates in a Bible study every week. He worked hard in school and took a full class load during the summers. In his four years, Brandon made All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year. He was the first player in the history of The University of Arkansas to earn a master’s degree before playing in his last game.

Burlsworth decided to declare for the draft with his brother Marty as his agent. He was drafted in the 3rd round and went 63rd overall to the Colts. 11 days after he was drafted, Brandon headed back to his hometown of Harrison, Arkansas to take his mother to church. On his way there, Brandon was hit head on by a semi-truck and died instantly. He was 22 years old.

Today, Brandon’s number is the second number in history to be retired in Razorback football. His locker is glassed up and remains a reminder to the team to push themselves every day and believe in their wildest dreams. Each year the university awards 13 students a scholarship in Brandon’s name to assist them in their financial difficulty. Since 2010 there has been an award in his honor called “The Burlsworth Award”, this award is given to the most outstanding football player, who started their career as a walk-on. Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship was runner-up for this award in 2019.

In every poll and in every ranking, Brandon Burlsworth comes out on top for the best walk-on in college football history. Brandon might not have been able to play in the NFL, but he did fulfil his wildest dream, playing for The University of Arkansas. At some point in all of our lives we will face adversity, and it is how we deal with that adversity that will shape who we become. Brandon’s work ethic and persistence are what catapulted him out of adversity and into his dreams. He is a true testament that hard work and dedication does truly pay off in the end.

For more information on Brandon Burlsworth please visit: https://www.brandonburlsworth.org/#