FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Patrick Laird was selected Tuesday as one of three national finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy awarded annually to the nation's most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on. Laird spent his first three seasons as a walk-on at Cal before being granted an athletic scholarship in August of 2017. Laird was previously a national semifinalist for the award in 2017.

"It's a tremendous honor to even be considered for the Burlsworth Trophy," Laird said. "Being a walk-on is one of the most rewarding but also challenging experiences you can go through. On our fourth-and-one play late in the game against USC last Saturday, we had five walk-ons on the field. We got the first down to seal the game and I think that's a testament to the type of character that many walk-ons embody."

The three finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2018 Burlsworth Trophy announced at a ceremony hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club on Monday, Dec. 3, in Springdale, Ark.

The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on to the Arkansas football team in 1994 and eventually became a three-year starter and 1998 All-American. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of 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 who have limited opportunities. Burlworth's life is also the subject of the major motion picture "Greater" released in 2016.
"
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.

Below are notes on Laird with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.

Patrick Laird, RB, 6-0, 205, Sr., 2L, Arroyo Grande, CA (Mission Prep)

Senior (2018)

• A national honors candidate who is a national finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, a national semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy and selected as a member of the AFCA Good Works Team®
• Cal's candidate for Pac-12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a nominee for CoSIDA Academic All-America® honors
• On preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Wuerffel Trophy and a candidate for the Doak Walker Award
• Earned second-team preseason All-Pac-12 honors from Athlon and Lindy's while he was a fourth-team pick of Phil Steele
• Leads Cal in rushing with team-highs of 771 yards and five touchdowns on the ground on 179 carries while also pacing the squad with 1040 all-purpose yards, eight total touchdowns and 43 receptions (269 yards), while his three touchdown grabs equal a team-high
• Has also completed both of his pass attempts for a total of 25 yards to give him a 205.00 passer rating and added one tackle
• Hosted the Patrick Laird Summer Reading Challenge in 2018 with participants who completed the challenge receiving the opportunity to meet Laird following Cal's 2018 season-opening win over North Carolina at California Memorial Stadium and receiving up to four complimentary tickets to the game
• Had over 3,600 students sign up for the challenge and promoted the event thru social and traditional media, as well as during visits and speaking engagements with 23 schools and three camps in the Bay Area and his hometown area of Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast
• Published a series of #ReadWithPat videos with head coach Justin Wilcox, Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton, best-selling author Michael Lewis and UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ

Junior (2017)

• An honorable mention All-Pac-12, Cal Bear Backers Offensive Team MVP and CoSIDA Academic All-District® selection as well as one of 10 national semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy when he set nearly all of his offensive career highs with 191 rushes, 1127 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the ground, while adding 45 receptions and 322 yards receiving for 1449 all-purpose yards in addition to one touchdown catch

Career

• A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection who picked up first-team honors as a junior after earning second-team recognition in his sophomore campaign
• Served as one of Cal's season captains as both a junior and senior