Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman James Carpenter Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy

The Burlsworth Trophy announced its nominees for consideration of the 2024 award and Indiana Hoosier senior James Carpenter was among the 73 FBS nominees for the award that is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a walk on.

The 6-foot-2 and 288 pound defensive lineman is one of 31 overall transfers, 13 from James Madison, who have helped remake the roster for Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers.

He appeared in 40 career games with 37 starts over five seasons at James Madison (2019-23) and was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference pick (2022-23). Carpenter totaled 141 career tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks

The Burlsworth Trophy was first awarded in 2010 and is presented each year to "college football's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on." The trophy is presented to a young man who embodies the values that Brandon Burlsworth stood for. Brandon was a walk on football player at the University of Arkansas and completed his college career as an All-American and the 63rd overall pick in the NFL draft.

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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.