FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Old Dominion University Football center Xavier Black was named one of 81 nominees for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the top FBS player that began his career as a walk-on.
A native of Fishersville, Virginia, Black began his ODU career in 2019 as a walk-on and redshirted that season. He played in 10 games last season as a reserve and a member of the extra points/field goal team.
This season, Black has started all eight games at center for the Monarchs. After ODU's win against Arkansas State, ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne announced that Black had earned a scholarship.
The Burlsworth Trophy is in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who 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.
Burlsworth Trophy Nominees
School | Player | Position | Class |
Air Force | Isaac Cochran | OG | SR |
Arizona | Dorian Singer | WR | Soph |
Arizona State | Case Hatch | FB | SR |
Arkansas | Hudson Clark | DB | JR |
Arkansas State | TW Ayers | DL | JR |
Auburn | Jacob Quattlebaum | LS | SR |
Boise State | Jonah Dalmas | K/P | JR |
Bowling Green | Demetrius Hardamon | OLB | SR |
Buffalo | Shaun Dolac | LB | JR |
BYU | Payton Wilgar | LB | JR |
Cal | Dario Longhetto | PK | SR |
Charlotte | Chris Reynolds | QB | SR |
Coastal Carolina | Jairan Parker | LB | SR |
Eastern Michigan | Hassan Beydoun | WR | SR |
Florida | Adam Mihalek | K | RSF |
Florida Atlantic | Nick Weber | C | SR |
Florida State | Treshaun Ward | RB | Soph |
Georgia | Stetson Bennett | QB | SR |
Georgia Southern | Alex Raynor | PK | JR |
Georgia State | Tucker Gregg | RB | SR |
Georgia Tech | Joe Fusile | OL | RSF |
Hawaii | Eliki Tanuvasa | C | SR |
Illinois | Michael Marchese | TE | SR |
Indiana | Matt Hohlt | LB | RSF |
Iowa | Joe Evans | DE | SR |
Iowa State | Jared Rus | TE | SR |
Kansas | Quentin Skinner | WR | Soph |
Kansas State | Austin Moore | LB | JR |
Kent State | Andrew Glass | PK | Soph |
Kentucky | Colin Goodfellow | P | SR |
Louisiana | Jordan Quibodeaux | LB | SR |
Louisiana Tech | Julien Lewis | WR | RSF |
LSU | Josh Williams | RB | JR |
Maryland | Greg China-Rose | DL | SR |
Memphis | Caden Prieskorn | TE | JR |
Michigan State | Bryce Baringer | P | SR |
Minnesota | Axel Ruschmeyer | OL | SR |
Mississippi State | Sherman Timbs | LB | SR |
Missouri | Barrett Banister | WR | SR |
Nebraska | Trent Hixson | C | SR |
New Mexico | Cody Moon | LB | Soph |
North Carolina State | Thayer Thomas | WR | SR |
North Texas | Austin Aune | QB | JR |
Northern Illinois | Devonte O'Malley | DT | Soph |
Notre Dame | Jon Sot | P/H | SR |
Ohio State | Bradley Robinson | LS | SR |
Oklahoma | Drake Stoops | WR | SR |
Oklahoma State | Tanner Brown | K | SR |
Old Dominion | Xavier Black | C | Soph |
Ole Miss | Casey Kelly | TE | JR |
Oregon | Ryan Walk | OL | SR |
Oregon State | Jaydon Grant | DB | SR |
Penn State | Barney Amor | P | SR |
Purdue | Aidan O'Connell | QB | SR |
Rice | Ari Broussard | RB | JR |
Rutgers | Hollin Pierce | OL | Soph |
San Diego State | Jack Browning | KP | SR |
SMU | Beau Barker | WR | JR |
South Alabama | Reggie Smith | OL | JR |
South Carolina | Payton Mangrum | WR | Soph |
Stanford | Brycen Tremayne | WR | SR |
Syracuse | Andre Szmyt | K | SR |
Tennessee | Matthew Salansky | LS | JR |
Texas A&M | Connor Choate | DS | SR |
Texas State | Seth Keller | K | JR |
Texas Tech | Xavier White | WR | SR |
Toledo | Nick Rosi | OL | Soph |
Troy | Carlton Martial | LB | SR |
Tulane | Casey Glover | P/KO/H | JR |
UAB | Noah Wilder | LB | SR |
UMass | Tanner Davis | S | SR |
USC | Denis Lynch | PK | RSF |
Utah | Bryson Barnes | QB | Soph |
Utah State | Chandler Dolphin | OC | SR |
UTSA | Jared Sackett | PK | SR |
Virginia Tech | Kaleb Smith | WR | SR |
Washington State | Armani Marsh | N | SR |
West Virginia | Casey Legg | K | JR |
Western Kentucky | Kye Robichaux | RB | Soph |
Wisconsin | John Torchio | S | SR |
Wyoming | John Hoyland | PK | Soph |