FAYETTEVILLE, AR – University at Buffalo defensive end Demone Harris has been named a nominee for the 2017 Burlsworth Trophy. The award is given to the most outstanding football player in the nation 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 FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department. The 2016 winner was quarterback Baker Mayfield from the University of Oklahoma. Mayfield is believed to be the only true freshman Walk-On QB in FBS history to start a season opener.