FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan was named one of 10 semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy on Tuesday.
The trophy is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. Burlsworth walked on at Arkansas without a Division I scholarship and became a three-year starter and an All-American in 1998. The Harrison native was selected as the 63rd pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, but died in a traffic accident 11 days later.
A team captain for the Razorbacks, Morgan put together a season to remember in 2020. The Greenwood native is second in the country in total tackles with 111, trailing only Troy linebacker Carlton Martial, who was also named a semifinalist for the award.
Morgan, who suffered a knee injury in the Razorbacks’ loss at Missouri on Dec. 5, did not play in Arkansas’ regular-season finale against No. 1 Alabama.
Listed at 5-11, 222 pounds on the Razorbacks’ official roster, Morgan recorded double-digit tackles in six of nine games played this season. He finished with 19 tackles twice – in Arkansas’ 33-21 win over Ole Miss and its 27-24 home loss to LSU. Battling a left arm injury, he broke up two passes and returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the win over the Rebels.
“It's going to have to take a lot (to take me out of the game),” Morgan said. “I love playing football. I love being a Razorback. I love going out there and getting wins like that. That's what it's meant for, just to be able to play through pain.
“Football is a painful game, so if there is no pain in it then nothing is getting done. It’s going to have to take a lot. It's going to have to come falling off.”
On Oct. 20, Morgan was named the Chuck Bednarik national player of the week, and hours later he was selected as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy national defensive player of the week.
“You saw him holding that elbow on a play late in the fourth quarter and it didn’t stop him from picking a pass and running it back for a touchdown,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “He’s a tough kid. He is Arkansas. That’s what he is.”
Morgan is also one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker.
The Burlsworth Trophy selection committee will announce the three finalists on Dec. 22. The winner will be announced Jan. 4, 2021, at a virtual ceremony.
Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes, the Big Ten defensive lineman of the year who became the Spartans’ all-time leader in tackles for loss, was the Burlsworth Trophy recipient in 2019.
2020 Burlsworth Trophy semifinalists
LB Grant Morgan, Arkansas
WR Dax Milne, BYU
P Will Spiers, Clemson
C Sammy Thompson, Coastal Carolina
K Keith Duncan, Iowa
WR Calvin Austin III, Memphis
LB Chris Bergin, Northwestern
C Ry Schneider, Oklahoma State
C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh
LB Carlton Martial, Troy