FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan was named one of three finalists 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 is second in the country in total tackles with 111, trailing only Troy linebacker Carlton Martial, who was named a semifinalist for the award last week.
Morgan, who was also named to the All-SEC first team by the league’s coaches Tuesday, did not play in Arkansas’ regular-season finale against No. 1 Alabama.
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.
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.
Morgan was one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker.
The winner of the Burlsworth Trophy will be announced Jan. 4, 2021, at a virtual ceremony.
2020 Burlsworth Trophy finalists
LB Grant Morgan, Arkansas
WR Dax Milne, BYU
C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh