FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – UCLA football redshirt senior running back Joshua Kelley has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, the award's selection committee announced Tuesday.
The Burlsworth Trophy, named for former Arkansas standout Brandon Burlsworth, is presented to the nation's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. Burlsworth joined the Razorbacks as a walk-on in 1994 and went on to not only earn a scholarship, but an array of accolades on and off the field. Eleven days after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft, Burlsworth was tragically killed in an automobile accident. The Burlsworth Trophy was created in 2010.
Rounding out the list of semifinalists are safety/kick returner Ashtyn Davis of California, defensive end Alex Highsmith of Charlotte, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship of Georgia, tight end Joey Magnifico of Memphis, defensive end Kenny Willekes of Michigan State, defensive lineman Sam Renner of Minnesota, linebacker Jan Johnson of Penn State, quarterback Josh Love of San Jose State and defensive back Myles Bryant of Washington.
The list will be pared down to three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The 2019 Burlsworth Trophy will be presented Monday, Dec. 9 at a luncheon hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation in Springdale, Ark.
Kelley garnered and accepted his only scholarship offer from UC Davis of the Football Championship Subdivision coming out of Eastside HS in Lancaster, Calif. After a coaching change in 2016, Kelley left the Aggies to pursue an opportunity with a Football Bowl Subdivision program. He was invited to a walk-on tryout at UCLA in the summer 2017 and earned a walk-on spot prior to that season. Kelley was awarded a scholarship before the start of fall camp in 2018.
In 2018, Kelley totaled 1,243 rushing yards—the 10th most in program history—and 12 touchdowns on 225 carries for a 5.5 yards per carry average in 11 games played. As a result, he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team by the Associated Press and ESPN.com and received All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention recognition from the conference. Kelley also earned the Henry R. "Red" Sanders Award as UCLA's most valuable player. He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week after accumulating a rivalry-record 289 rushing yards on 40 carries in a win versus USC. Kelley ranked fourth conference wide and eighth nationally in rushing yards per game at 113.0 and rushed for a touchdown in each of his last eight games. For good measure, he posted 100 or more rushing yards in six of the last nine games ranked 19th nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 130.55.
This year, Kelley leads the Pac-12 and is 16th in the nation in rushing yards per game at 107.6. His 10 touchdowns rank second in the league. Kelley has turned in four 100-plus-yard rushing performances in his last five games, including a 176-yard, two touchdown showing on 18 carries at Stanford. He also set a personal-best mark of four touchdowns scored—all rushing—versus No. 24 Arizona State one week later.