Sargeant Announced as Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy Award

Liberty’s Thomas Sargeant has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy award.

The honor is annually given to the most outstanding football player in the country who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.

In the award’s twelfth year, the Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on turned All-America offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016.

The Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony will honor the three finalists on November 16 and announce the 2021 winner will on December 6 at 7 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.

Sargeant has been the Flames’ “Iron Man” since gaining a scholarship before the start of the 2017 season. After redshirting in 2016, Sargeant has started every game at center for the Flames since the beginning of the 2017 season (currently 57 consecutive games).

Last season, the native of Mechanicsville, Va., was named to the 2020 Rimington Award watch list (top center in college football).

In 2020, Sargeant also earned VaSID All-State first team and Phil Steele Postseason All-Independent first team honors. He was also recognized for his work in the classroom when he was named to the 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District team.

Sargeant has been the starting center during Liberty’s starting quarterback Malik Willis’ entire career with the Flames.

Willis currently ranks No. 6 in the country in points responsible for (188/18.8 per game), No. 12 in passing efficiency (165.6), No. 19 in total offense (291.9 per game) and No. 26 in rushing touchdowns (10).

2021 Burlsworth Trophy Award Semifinalists

Calvin Austin, III, Sr., WR, Memphis

Stetson Bennett, Sr., QB, Georgia

Chris Bergen, Sr., LB, Northwestern

Matt Henningsen, Sr., DE, Wisconsin

Carlton Martial, Sr., LB, Troy

Grant Morgan, Sr., LB, Arkansas

Chris Reynolds, Sr., QB, Charlotte

Thomas Sargeant, Sr., OL, Liberty

Derek Schweiger, Sr., OL, Iowa State

Ryan Walk, Jr., OL, Oregon