BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football offensive lineman Marshall Jackson has been named a 2025 Burlsworth Trophy nominee, the award committee announced Tuesday.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. There were 79 players from Division I FBS schools nominated for the award, which is in its 16th year.
Jackson has started all nine games at left tackle for the Hilltoppers this season, helping the team to a 7-2 overall record and a 5-1 mark in Conference USA play. Jackson served as WKU's offensive team captain for the season-opening win against Sam Houston. He was named CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week following the team's win at Missouri State.
Jackson entered 2025 with numerous preseason honors, including recognition as a HERO Sports G5 Preseason Third Team All-American selection; a CUSA Preseason Watch List selection; a member of the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List; an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee; an Athlon Sports Preseason All Conference USA First Team Selection; and a Phil Steele Preseason CUSA All-Conference First Team selection.
Jackson didn't have any Division I offers during his high school career at Meade County, but ended up at WKU as a walk-on. He did not see any action in his first year, but played in 12 games as a redshirt freshman with starts in the team's regular-season finale and the New Orleans Bowl – both wins. He earned a scholarship following the regular-season finale at FAU, and has started every game for WKU since midway through the 2023 season. Last year, he was named All-CUSA Second Team Offense by the league's coaches.
The award is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who was a former walk-on at Arkansas who went on to be an All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth walked on at Arkansas in 1994 and became a three-year starter. He was eventually named an All-American in 1998, and was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft, but he 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, particularly those children who have limited opportunities.
"Even with all the changes in college football, the walk-on athlete is still enormously impactful," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. "All of these nominees have a passion for the game and that passion can spread throughout a team. That's what makes these guys special. College football is what it is today because of players that had a dream and were willing to put in the work to make their dreams come true."
The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2025 winner will be on Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. CT at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
WKU Football is off this weekend, but will return to action to host Middle Tennessee for a Senior Day game on Nov. 15. Kickoff at Houchens-Smith Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Tickets for the game can be purchased HERE.
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
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