Former Wyoming Walk-On Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., - Today, the Burlsworth Trophy announces 79 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy. University of Wyoming nose tackle Ben Florentine was named a nominee.

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In the award’s 16th year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER,” which was released in 2016.

Florentine, a native of Anaheim, Calif. joined the Cowboys in 2021 as a walk-on. He has appeared in 34 career games and has started 20-sttaight games dating back to last season. He has 63 career tackles including a career-high 26 so far this season. He leads the team with five sacks and six tackles for loss.

He was the first interior defensive lineman to have a sack in four-straight games for the Pokes in the MW era of Cowboy football after recording one the 2024 season and one in each of the first three games of this season. He also has recorded a blocked field goal on the season.

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The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American 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 FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.

The 2024 winner was linebacker Bryce Boettcher from the University of Oregon. Boettcher led then number 1 Oregon with 94 total tackles, including a team-high 50 solo takedowns. Before walking on to the football program, he was an Oregon baseball walk-on where he won a gold glove in 2024.

Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Boettcher was granted a final season of eligibility and returned for the 2025 football season.

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert Gagliardi, Jared Newland, Ryan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players