FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the second straight season, UTSA senior place-kicker Hunter Duplessis is a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which 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.
The San Antonio Cole High School product is one of 88 FBS players nominated from schools across the country for the Burlsworth Trophy. Now in its 12th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-America offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Duplessis has made 13 of 17 field goals and all 39 extra-point attempts through the first eight games this season, helping the Roadrunners to an 8-0 record and a No. 16 ranking in this week's AP Top 25. A two-time Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week this fall, the 2020 honorable mention All-American leads the league and ranks ninth among FBS players with 1.62 field goals per game. The first-team all-conference performer also stands second in C-USA and 14th nationally with 78 total points scored.
A former standout prep soccer player, Duplessis did not receive any scholarship offers for football coming out of high school but attended a UTSA kicking camp, where he caught the eye of coaches with his leg strength. He chose to try out for UTSA and earned a roster spot in 2016, redshirting that season before seeing his first action a year later.
A Lou Groza Award semifinalist a year ago, Duplessis earned the starting job in 2019 and has made 39 of 48 field goals (81.2%) and 104 PATs during his career, ranking second in school history in field goals and extra point made. He also has handled kickoff duties as a Roadrunner with 126 kickoffs, 44 going for a touchback.
A standout in the classroom, Duplessis was a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District choice and a C-USA All-Academic Team selection last year. The two-time William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist graduated in August 2020 with a 3.78 GPA as a double major in information systems and cyber security. A five-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, he currently is carries a 4.0 GPA in technology management as part of an MBA program.
"What a privilege it is to recognize these young men each year, those that chose to take on the challenge of beginning their college career as a walk-on," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon. "We are excited to celebrate the achievements of these 88 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. These extraordinary young men have put in the work and have earned this honor."
Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at 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.
The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2021 winner will on Dec. 6 at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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