The Arkansas Razorbacks have a proud history of great players, one of the best is former offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth.
Burlsworth came into the University of Arkansas to play for the Razorbacks as walk-on. After one semester, Burlsworth earned a scholarship that would propel him to be a three-year starter, a two-time All-SEC selection and an All-American in his last season for the Razorbacks.
Burlsworth would go on to get drafted in the third round (63rd overall pick) by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft. This is the same draft that saw the Colts take Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James with the fourth overall pick. Burlsworth impressed the Colts' coaching staff so much in workouts and mini-practices that he was projected at right guard just a few days after being drafted.
Unfortunately, 11 days after being drafted by the Colts, Burlsworth was killed in a car accident in Alpena.
But while Burlsworth's life was cut short, his legacy remains in the state of Arkansas, in his story and charity. Nationally, scholarships have been created in his name, along with the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given to the best walk-on player in college football. Among the top players to win the award have been Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Baker Mayfield, Clemson wide receiver Hunter Renfroe, Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan and Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Burlsworth's legacy and charity were the highlight of the 2023 Distinguished Service Awards Banquet held Tuesday evening. The event's keynote speaker was Rick Watts, the pastor who baptized Burlsworth at 11. He was 26-years-old when he met Brandon. Watts saw first hand the work, determination and growth that Burlsworth demonstrated at a young age to become a walk-on at the collegiate level and a projected starter at the professional level. Watts was his mentor throughout his entire journey.
His message Tuesday was to share the benefits that the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation does. Their goal is helping underprivileged students see a bright future through the Eyes of a Champion program. They provide resources to young children who are visually impaired in all 75 counties in the state and in some parts of Oklahoma and Texas. The goal is to provide this type of care and support to visually impaired children across the United States.
The foundation also provides children from across the state the chance to go to their first Razorbacks' football game. The University gives out multiple $5,000 scholarships to student-athletes and one $10,000 scholarship to one walk-on student athlete a year since 1999.
Watts joined the foundation in 2004 after being asked by Brandon's mother, Barbara Burlsworth. His role was to talk about the spiritual side of the foundation in large groups of people.
"Our mission is to help the disadvantaged children with ... physical needs and their spiritual needs," Wattts said.
With the Eyes of a Champion program, Watts said the motto of the program is similar to Burlsworth's attitude, having lived his life being visually impaired: "It's not just what the eyes see, it's how they see."
"I think it's very important to know that as a person of character, one of the greatest character traits that we can have, and that we need to stir up again inside us, is to look one another in the eye," Watts said.
Watts helped develop programming used by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation that takes a more spiritual approach to assistance, called Character of Life Coaches.
His call to action was for audience members Tuesday to reach out be a guide to anyone who needs support. Watts stressed the importance of making change by seeing past anything that would usually hinder one from going to someone and making eye contact for moral support.