The Burlsworth Trophy has gone to Bryce Boettcher of Oregon, an inside linebacker.
At a ceremony on Monday at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, Boettcher accepted the honor, which is given annually to the country’s most exceptional college football player who started his career as a walk-on.
He won the award ahead of fellow candidates James Carpenter of Indiana and Shaun Dolac of Buffalo.
Boettcher accepted the prize and remarked, “This is the Heisman of walk-ons,” as my grandfather used to say. For all the walk-ons who are familiar with it, it’s likely a bit more impressive.
Boettcher, a walk-on safety who joined the football team in 2022, is the first player in Oregon history to be named a Burlsworth Trophy finalist. His career-high 87 tackles (eight for loss), two sacks, four pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble led the No. 1 Ducks this season after he switched to linebacker in 2023.
As the Oregon baseball team’s starting center fielder, the senior excelled and won a Gold Glove for his batting last season.276 with 48 RBIs and a career-high 14 home runs to help the Ducks advance to the NCAA Super Regionals. In this year’s MLB draft, the Houston Astros selected Boettcher in the thirteenth round.
CFP quarterfinal: No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 1 Oregon (13-0).
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When:
Wednesday, Jan. 1
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Time:
2 p.m. PT
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Where:
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
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TV channel:
ESPN
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