FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior linebacker Brennon Davis is New Mexico State's nominee for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy.  

The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football student-athlete in America who began their career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Nominees must have begun their first season of participation with an FBS program without financial aid of any kind from their university's athletic department.

Davis, who was awarded a scholarship in the spring of 2020, made his Aggie debut in 2019 after beginning his career at Blinn College and Tyler JC in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He played in five games with two starts for NM State during the campaign, finishing the season with 28 total tackles (11 solo) and one forced fumble.

The Grapevine, Texas, native made his first appearance at #2 Alabama (9/7) and logged the first forced fumble of his career in a rain-soaked affair at Georgia Southern (10/26) before racking up eight total tackles in the home win against UIW (11/16). Davis started the final two games of the 2019 season, totaling a career-best 11 tackles in the rivalry win over UTEP (11/23) and picking up eight more stops in the season finale at Liberty (11/30).

The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on at 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. The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on January 4, 2021 to honor three finalists and announce the 2020 winner.
 
Davis is one of 67 nominees for this year's award. Defensive back Austin Perkins was the Aggie nominee in 2019.

In total, five NM State student-athletes have been recognized as nominees since the Burlsworth Trophy was first awarded in 2010:
2020 - Brennon Davis, LB
2019 - Austin Perkins, DB
2018 - Anthony Muse, WR
2015 - Teldrick Morgan, WR
2013 - Davis Cazares, DB

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