Laird Named Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Patrick Laird was selected Tuesday as one of 10 national semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy awarded annually to the nation's most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on.
Laird is having a breakthrough campaign as a 2017 junior leading Cal in all rushing categories with career highs of 139 carries for 796 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground with averages of 5.7 yards per rush and 88.4 rushing yards per game. Laird has the two biggest rushing games by a Cal player since 2009 during his junior campaign including career highs of 33 rushes and 214 yards rushing with one touchdown on the ground in his most recent contest against Oregon State last Saturday. Earlier in the season against Weber State, he rushed for 191 yards and a career-high three touchdowns including a 73-yard score that was both a career long run and the second-longest play from scrimmage by Cal in 2017. Laird also has career highs with 36 receptions, 245 yards receiving and one touchdown catch as well as a career-best 1041 all-purpose yards.
Laird has played in 26 career games with six starts and contributed 861 yards rushing with eight touchdowns on the ground over 150 carries, as well as 39 receptions for 243 yards receiving with one touchdown for a total of 1104 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. Laird was also a second-team Pac-12 All-Academic selection for the first time in his career as a 2016 sophomore.
The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on to the Arkansas football team in 1994 and eventually became a three-year starter and 1998 All-American. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of 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 who have limited opportunities. Burlworth's life is also the subject of the major motion picture "Greater" released in 2016.
Fans will be allowed to vote for their favorite player via the "GREATER" Fan Vote beginning today, Nov. 7 at Noon PT. Fans are limited to one vote per day, and the voting for the semifinalist round will conclude on Nov. 12 at 10 pm PT. Voting can be accessed at 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. 14. The "GREATER" Fan Vote counts as 5 percent during each round of voting, and it is combined with the results from the Selection Committee.
Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2017 Burlsworth Trophy announced December 4 at a banquet hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club in Springdale, Ark.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.