TOLEDO, Ohio - Sophomore wide receiver Devin Maddox was named an official nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy on 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. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with an FBS football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department. Past Rockets who have been nominated for the award include current Rocket cornerback Samuel Womack (2020), Reggie Gilliam (2019) and Ka'dar Hollman (2018). Gilliam currently plays for the NFL's Buffalo Bills while Hollman is on the NY Giants roster after spending two seasons in Green Bay.

Maddox leads the Rockets with 26 receptions this season. In 2020, he was tied for second on the team with 14 catches. He has 54 receptions and nine TD catches so far in his Rocket career.

The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. 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 Brandon 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 be on Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.