Eastern Michigan Athletics
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Mulder Named a 2015 Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
11/11/2015 2:16:00 PM | Football
The trophy is given to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) — The Burlsworth Trophy and the presenting sponsor, the Springdale (Ark.) Rotary Club, are excited to announce Eastern Michigan University kicker Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) as one of 55 players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy. The trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
The 2015 list includes team captains, All-Conference selections and national statistical leaders from across the nation.
Mulder, a senior, has been one of the most accurate kickers in program history, making 70.8 percent of his field goal attempts (34-of-48) and 93.3 percent of his point-after-touchdown tries (98-for-108). He is the only kicker in school-history to make three-or-more field goals from 50-or-longer in the same season, pushing it through from 51, 52 and a school-record 55 during in 2015 campaign.
Against Miami, Nov. 7, Mulder booted a pair of field goals, the second of which was a school-record 55-yarder. EMU's previous long was 52 yards set on six previous occasions, including a 52 yard make by Mulder in the season-opener against Old Dominion, Sept. 5. Overall, the boot is tied for the 11th longest in MAC history and the longest since Ball State's Scott Secor drilled a 55-yarder as time expired at Central Michigan last year. Mulder's make is also sixth longest field goal made in the country this season.
A walk-on is defined as a player who began his first season of participation with a D1 (FBS) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department. The Trophy is named in honor of former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman, Brandon Burlsworth.
The 2014 winner was wide receiver Justin Hardy from East Carolina University. Hardy broke the NCAA all-time receiving record with 355 catches.
"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 2015 list includes team captains, All-Conference selections and national statistical leaders from across the nation.
Mulder, a senior, has been one of the most accurate kickers in program history, making 70.8 percent of his field goal attempts (34-of-48) and 93.3 percent of his point-after-touchdown tries (98-for-108). He is the only kicker in school-history to make three-or-more field goals from 50-or-longer in the same season, pushing it through from 51, 52 and a school-record 55 during in 2015 campaign.
Against Miami, Nov. 7, Mulder booted a pair of field goals, the second of which was a school-record 55-yarder. EMU's previous long was 52 yards set on six previous occasions, including a 52 yard make by Mulder in the season-opener against Old Dominion, Sept. 5. Overall, the boot is tied for the 11th longest in MAC history and the longest since Ball State's Scott Secor drilled a 55-yarder as time expired at Central Michigan last year. Mulder's make is also sixth longest field goal made in the country this season.
A walk-on is defined as a player who began his first season of participation with a D1 (FBS) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department. The Trophy is named in honor of former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman, Brandon Burlsworth.
The 2014 winner was wide receiver Justin Hardy from East Carolina University. Hardy broke the NCAA all-time receiving record with 355 catches.
"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.
Players Mentioned
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