Brandon Burlsworth

Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 – April 28, 1999) was an American football player who was an offensive lineman of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998.

He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American.

He was Arkansas's first All-American player since 1993 and their first player selected to a first-team squad since 1989.

Burlsworth graduated in 1994 from Harrison High School, where he was an All-State selection and volunteer walk-on football player to the University of Arkansas, despite having scholarship offers from smaller universities.

After he redshirted his first year (1994), he transformed his pudgy 300 lb frame into a svelte 260 lb, and, over the next two years, built himself back up to a muscular 300 lb offensive guard.

He was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll every year from 1995–1998.

Burlsworth played on two SEC Western Division championship Razorback football teams (1995, 1998).

By his sophomore season in 1996, he had earned a scholarship and a starting position at right guard on the offensive line.

Before his junior season in 1997, he was selected to be one of the team captains.

Burlsworth's efforts earned him first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998, and he was selected for the 1998 College Football All-America Team.

Burlsworth graduated in 1998 from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in business administration.

The following year, he completed an MBA.

He was the first Razorback football player to complete a master's degree before playing in his final game, the 1999 Citrus Bowl.

After his career with the Razorbacks, Burlsworth was invited to the NFL combine.

At the combine, Burlsworth topped all linemen with a 4.88 40-yard dash.

He bench-pressed 225 pounds 28 times, weighed 308 pounds, and measured slightly below 6 feet 4 inches.

During the 1999 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Burlsworth with the 63rd pick in the third round.

After participating in a Colts post draft mini-camp, he impressed the team's then-offensive line coach Howard Mudd and was projected to be a starter for the Colts' 1999 season.

Shortly after his death, Burlsworth's jersey number, 77, was permanently retired in a ceremony at Arkansas's first home game of the 1999 season.

It is only the second number ever retired (the other is number 12, retired in honor of Clyde Scott) by the University of Arkansas.

Burlsworth's locker in the Razorback locker room is encased in glass, preserved for future players and fans in his honor.

Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on his way back to his hometown of Harrison after a workout in Fayetteville.

Burlsworth's vehicle clipped an oncoming 18-wheeler, swerved back into his lane, and then hit another tractor trailer head on.

The stretch around Carrollton in which the crash occurred was not particularly rugged.

A state police report said that, "for unknown reasons," Burlsworth's car drove left of the center line and hit the left front fender of a tractor trailer.

After returning to its lane briefly, the car crossed the center line again and hit a second tractor trailer.

Burlsworth was declared dead at the scene.

He was buried on May 2, 1999, in Gass Cemetery in Omaha, Arkansas.

After his death, family and friends established the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in honor of his work ethic and Christian values.

The Christian organization's mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

The foundation's logo prominently features Burlsworth's signature black-framed glasses.

The foundation makes its money via donations and the sale of Burlsworth merchandise.

On the foundation's website, one can choose from books and movies about Brandon to shirts and hats to raise money for their cause.

Today, through the "Burls Kids" program, the Burlsworth Foundation provides underprivileged youths with a chance to attend Razorback and Colts football games.

Since 2000, the Foundation has bought 30 tickets to each Arkansas Razorbacks home football game.

The tickets are distributed through Razorback Clubs across the state.

The children are given an official "Burls Kid" T-shirt and replica glasses similar to those Brandon wore on the field.

Burlsworth was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, and the University of Arkansas Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004.

In 2007, the "Eyes of a Champion" program was started.

In 2013, Bleacher Report named Burlsworth the #1 Greatest Walk-On player of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Era.