Western Kentucky University Athletics announced Thursday, Nov. 5, that WKU defensive back Christian White was named a nominee for the 2026 Burlsworth Trophy. The award recognizes an outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on, according to the announcement.
White, in his first season at WKU after transferring from Florida State, has played in all eight games and started twice, recording 13 tackles, including nine solo tackles, the announcement said. He began his college career as a walk-on at Florida State in 2022, according to WKU Athletics.
WKU Athletics said 65 players from Division I Football Bowl Subdivision schools were nominated. The selection committee is scheduled to announce semifinalists Nov. 10 and three finalists Nov. 17, with the winner to be announced Dec. 7 at the annual award show at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The announcement said the trophy is named for Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas walk-on who became an All-American offensive lineman. WKU’s announcement described Burlsworth’s path from walk-on in 1994 to a three-year starter and said he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft.
