Utah State Football's Nick Heninger Named 2021 Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

For the second-consecutive season, Utah State's Nick Heninger has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, it was announced Tuesday.

The grad senior defensive end from South Jordan, Utah, is one of 88 players nominated for the award, which 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 a Football Bowl Subdivision program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.

Heninger is one of 10 players from the Mountain West on the list, joining Colorado State's Thomas Pannunzio, Fresno State's Erik Brooks, Eliki Tanuvasa from Hawai'i, Nevada's Sam Hammond, New Mexico's Cody Moon, San Diego State's Segun Olubi, San José State's Trevor Robbins and UNLV's Daniel Gutierrez.

Furthermore, he is one of just two players from the Beehive State to be nominated, along with Utah's Karene Reid.

In the award's 12th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who began his career as a walk-on at Arkansas and ended up earning All-American honors as an offensive lineman in 1988.

"What a privilege it is to recognize these young men each year, those that chose to take on the challenge of beginning their college career as a walk-on," said Marty Burlsworth, president and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy, and older brother of Brandon. "We are excited to celebrate the achievements of these 88 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. These extraordinary young men have put in the work and have earned this honor."

This is Heninger's third nomination for a national award this fall. He is also one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award and one of 176 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

Heninger currently ranks seventh in the Mountain West and 42nd in the nation in fumbles forced with two, and eighth in the conference in tackles for loss at 1.0 per game. He is tied for fourth on the team in tackles (38), is second in tackles for loss (8.0), is first in sacks (3.0), tied for third in pass breakups (3) and tied for first in fumbles forced (2).

The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony to honor the three finalists and announce the 2021 winner on Dec. 6,, at 6 p.m. (MT), at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Heninger and the Aggies (6-2, 4-1 Mountain West) head to the Land of Enchantment for their final non-conference game of the season against New Mexico State (1-7) on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m., at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

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