Nov. 15, 2012

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University redshirt junior wide receiver Kevin Ozier has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the nation's top college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Ozier, who did not get any Division I scholarship offers, joined the Sun Devil football program as a walk-on wide receiver in 2009. He redshirted his freshman season and spent the next year on scout team, but moved up the depth chart in 2011 and appeared in all 13 games. He recorded his first career touchdown, a career-long 33-yarder, in a homecoming win over Colorado, and finished the year with 11 receptions for 169 yards.

This season, his first under scholarship, Ozier has 17 receptions for 246 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 14.5 yards per catch and 24.6 yards per game, including a long of 52 yards. He has started eight of 10 games in 2012.

Ozier says he chose ASU because it was a great school, a great atmosphere for both athletics and academics, and it was his close to home in San Diego. As a walk-on, however, he had to pay for his own tuition and fees, room, board and books. He worked a number of jobs and at one point, even slept in his car on the side on the road.

After three seasons, Ozier was awarded a scholarship in the spring of 2011.

Ten semifinalists for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Nov. 20 and the three finalists will be narrowed down on Nov. 27. The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at an awards ceremony in Springdale, Ark.

Tickets for the final home game of the 2012 season are available at TheSunDevils.com, the Arizona State Ticket Office outside of the Carson Student-Athlete Center, or by phone at 480-727-0000.

About the Burlsworth Trophy
The Burlsworth Trophy is in its third season and is presented by the Springdale (Ark.) Rotary Club. The 2011 winner was Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis. The Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, who walked on to the Razorbacks team in 1994, worked his way to being 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 died 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 that have limited opportunities.