Nov. 20, 2012

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Oregon State’s Andrew Seumalo is among 10 semi-finalists for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy. The trophy is given annually to the most outstanding college football player in America that began his career as a walk-on.

Fifty current and former walk-ons were nominated for the award. A walk-on is defined as a player who began his first season of participation with a FBS (D-1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.

“All of these young men have worked very hard to get where they are,” said Marty Burlsworth, the CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation. “The stories behind these players are incredible and they are all winners in my book.”

Seumalo, a senior defensive tackle from Corvallis, Ore., arrived at Oregon State as a walk-on in 2008. Following a redshirt season, Seumalo began to leave a mark on the depth chart first as a scout team defensive end and then working into the rotation all along the defensive line. As a junior in 2011, Seumalo started in 11 out of 12 games at tackle and finished the season with 34 tackles. He tied an OSU record with two blocked kicks (one field goal and one PAT) against UCLA and earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention that season. Awarded a scholarship prior to his senior season, Seumalo has started all 10 games in 2012 and as a team co-captain has helped to lead the Beavers to bowl eligibility and a No. 15 ranking in the BCS. He was recently named to the Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team.

The other semi-finalists include: Ezekiel Ansah (BYU), B.J. Finney (Kansas State), Matt McGloin (Penn State), David Quessenberry (San Jose State), Andrew Abbott (UCLA), Alex Kupper (Louisville), Jordan Kovacs (Michigan), Spencer Long (Nebraska) and Jared Abbrederis (Wisconsin).

Fans are allowed to vote for their favorite player via the AT&T Fan Vote beginning today, Nov. 20. Voting can be accessed at www.burlsworthtrophy.com and will begin with the top 10 semi-finalists and continue as the selection committee announces the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 27. Fans are limited to one vote per day, and the voting will conclude on Nov. 26 at 12:00 CST. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy announced Dec. 3 at a banquet in Springdale, Ark., sponsored by the Springdale Rotary Club.

The Fan Vote counts as 5 percent during each round of voting, and it is combined with the results from the Selection Committee.

The award in its third year of existence has been awarded to Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford in 2010 and Austin Davis of Southern Miss in 2011.

The Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Arkansas team in 1994, worked his way to being 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 that have limited opportunities.

Seumalo and the rest of the Beavers host Oregon in the 116^th playing of the Civil War this Saturday at noon on the Pac-12 Networks.