Dec. 3, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Georgia Tech senior center Sean Bedford has been named as one of five finalists for the 2010 Burlsworth Trophy, the selection committee announced Friday.
The Burlsworth Trophy, in its first year of existence, is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. The selection committee including notable NFL & college football coaches will announce the winner on Dec. 15.
Bedford, senior center from Gainesville, Fla., received no Division I scholarship offers out of high school and chose to walk-on at Georgia Tech in 2006 for its engineering program. After earning a starting spot on the offensive line in 2009, Bedford has gone on to earn first team All-ACC accolades in each of the past two seasons.
He anchors a Georgia Tech offensive line that has paved the way for a rushing offense that ranks No. 1 in the ACC and NCAA with 327.0 yards per game.
The Burlsworth award is named after Brandon Burlsworth, an offensive lineman from Harrison, Arkansas who began his career as the University of Arkansas as a walk-on without a single D-1 scholarship offer. He impressively went on to become an All-American and All-SEC selection and the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 199 NFL draft. Eleven days after the draft he was tragically killed in an automobile accident.
Joining Bedford as finalists are Army’s Josh McNary, Tennessee’s Nick Reveiz, Oklahoma State’s Bryant Ward and Boise State’s Ryan Winterswyk.
