Nov. 12, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior defensive end Carl Nassib (West Chester, Pa.) is a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. He is one of 55 candidates for the award.
Matt McGloin is Penn State's only winner of the Burlsworth Trophy, picking up the award as a senior in 2012.
Nassib has sprung onto the national scene this year and leads FBS in sacks (15.5), tackles for loss (19.5) and forced fumbles (6). He has recorded a sack in each game this season and five multi-sack games. With one sack at Northwestern, Nassib broke the Penn State single-seaosn sacks record by upping his total to 15.5. He surpasses the mark of 15 sacks set by Larry Kubin (1979) and Michael Haynes (2002).
Additionally, Nassib's six forced fumbles this season are the most by a Penn State player since Haynes had a school-record seven in the 2002. Nassib is the first Penn State player to force two fumbles in two games in a season since Maurice Evans did it in 2007. Evans had two forced fumbles against Indiana and two forced fumbles against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
The West Chester, Pennsylvania native was recently named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award for the nation's Defensive Player of the Year and the Rotary Lombardi Award for the Nation's Top College Lineman (offensive or defensive). He was also a midseason All-America choice by SI.com, ESPN.com, USAToday.com and CBS Sports.
"In this sixth year of the Burlsworth Trophy, I am again impressed by the quality and commitment of the athletes who have been nominated," said Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and older brother of Brandon. "These young men represent what the Burlsworth Trophy stands for: character, hard work, dedication to a sport and to their school and above all else, a desire to excel at the highest level."
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of 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.
Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 7th in Springdale, (Ark.) to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2015 winner.
The Nittany Lions are on a bye this week before returning to Beaver Stadium to meet Michigan for Senior Day and the Penn State WhiteOut on Nov. 21. Kick time and TV arrangements will be announced at a later date. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.