Sean Bedford, Aerospace engineering senior and center for the Tech football team,is the winner of the inaugural 2010 Burlsworth Trophy which is being given to the nation's most outstanding player who began his football career as a walk-on.
Bedford decided to attend Georgia Tech for the engineering program and be a "walk-on" football player after not receiving any Division 1 scholarship offers out of high school in 2006. Bedford earned his place on the offensive line in 2009 and has earned All-ACC accolades for the past two seasons. He has lead the Georgia Tech offensive line, earning the No. 1 slot for a rushing offense in the ACC and NCAA.
Bedford, who graduates this fall, was named first team All-ACC for a second straight season in 2010. Georgia Tech, which leads the nation in rushing offense, will play Air Force Dec. 27 in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
"Sean is a great story, and a good example of what a young person can do if they set goals and work hard to reach those goals," said Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson. "He came to Georgia Tech as a walk-on defensive lineman and three years later he is the first team All-ACC center. Sean will be extremely successful in whatever he does and he is very deserving of this award."
The Burlsworth award was named for Brandon Burlsworth, who was an offensive lineman from Harrison, Arkansas at the University of Arkansas. Burlsworth was also a walk-on without a Division 1 scholarship. Becoming an All-American and 63rd pick by the Indianapolis Colts, he was killed in a car accident.
"I am extremely honored to be the inaugural recipient of the Burlsworth Trophy," Bedford said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Mr. Burlsworth accomplished and it is humbling to be mentioned in the same caliber with him. I would like to thank the Burlsworth family, my coaches, teammates and friends for helping me earn this award."
