University of North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker was awarded the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy Monday at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
Created in 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy is awarded annually by the Burlsworth Foundation to the best player in college football who began his career as a walk-on. The award was created in honor of former Razorback all-American Brandon Burlsworth of Harrison, who walked on at Arkansas and was a third-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts. He died after a car accident returning home from training camp on April 28, 1999.
Mestemaker, a redshirt freshman who is expected to follow North Texas coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, was the only 4,000-yard passer in the FBS in 2025. He took home the award of over fellow finalists Febechi Nwaiwu, an offensive lineman from Oklahoma, and Texas safety Michael Taaffe.
Feature image: Burlsworth Foundation director Marty Burlsworth and 2025 Burlsworth Trophy winner Drew Mestemaker (Photo courtesy of UNT)
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