FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Texas State long snapper John Oehrlein was today named a nominee for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the most outstanding walk-on from FBS schools across the country. In its fifteenth season, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman.

The redshirt senior has played in all eight games for TXST in 2024 as the team's primary long snapper. 

Oehrlein was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection in 2023 after playing in all 13 games at long snapper. The Austin, Texas, native played on 41 snaps on punt and 73 on field goal after arriving at Texas State in January 2023.

Oehrlein spent four seasons at Arkansas prior to his time with the Bobcats, playing in two games as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 including at Missouri and in the Liberty Bowl against Kansas.

A two-year letterwinner at Westlake High School. Oehrlein helped Westlake go 13-2 as a senior and to a berth in the 2018 Texas 6A state semifinals, the second of back-to-back seasons in which Westlake made the final four of the state football tournament.

The Burlsworth Trophy 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 an FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.

The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2024 winner will be on December 9 at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as 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, particularly those children who have limited opportunities.
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For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit  burlsworthtrophy.com.

For more information about the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), visit ncfaa.org.