California Golden Bears Athletics
Stephen Anderson Announced as Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
11/12/2014 12:00 AM | Football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Cal junior wide receiver Stephen Anderson was one of 55 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) announced Wednesday as nominees for the 2014 Burlsworth Trophy given annually to the collegiate player who began their career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
Anderson has certainly been outstanding for the Golden Bears in 2014 with a team-high 509 yards receiving on 34 catches that are second only to Bryce Treggs' team-high 40. Anderson, who also has three touchdown receptions, has racked up his total in seven games after missing the first two contests due to injury. His team-high 72.7 yards per catch is eighth in the Pac-12, while his 15.0 yards per reception is better than any of the other top-10 receivers in the league.
Anderson is in his fourth season at Cal and came into the 2014 campaign with 14 catches for 125 yards and no scores, with all of his receptions coming as a third-year sophomore in 2013 in which he was awarded with a scholarship after the season.
The award honors Brandon Burlsworth, a former walk-on and All-American offensive lineman at Arkansas who was the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
“As we enter our fifth year of the Burlsworth Trophy, I am again impressed by the quality of committed athletes that have been selected,” said Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and older brother of Brandon. “They each represent what the Burlsworth Trophy stands for: hard work, dedication to a sport and to their school, and above all else, a commitment to excel at the highest level.”
Springdale Rotary Club will host a banquet December 8 in Springdale, Ark. to honor the finalists and announce the 2014 winner.
