PITTSBURGH — University of Pittsburgh football player, Jimmy Morrissey has won the Burlsworth Trophy, handed out annually to the most outstanding college football player in American who began their career as a walk-on.
“It’s been a goal of mine ever since I was a freshman to win this award,” Morrissey said in a Zoom conference shortly after winning the award. “It’s something I worked for, and in this chaotic senior year that we had and with everything going on in the world, it’s been crazy. But to win this award and cap it off with this is like the cherry on top.”
The two-time All-Philadelphia Catholic League performer at La Salle College came to Pitt in 2016 after not getting a scholarship offer from any of the 128 FBS schools.
After redshirting his freshman year, he won the starting center position in 2017 and was awarded a scholarship before the first game of the season.
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“Being a walk-on has made me a better football player and a better man,” Morrissey said. “I’ve learned lesson by being a walk-on that I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
Morrissey got emotional while thanking his parents for their support. He also thanked his Pitt teammates and coaches.
Morrissey was a two-time captain for the Pitt football team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing and was named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team for three straight years.
The other finalist joining Morrissey for the award were Dax Milne of BYU and Grant Wilson of Arkansas.
The Burlsworth Trophy is named after Brandon Burlsworth, who went from a walk-on to an All-American at the University of Arkansas. He was killed in a car wreck in 1999 just days after being drafted to the NFL.
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