NCAA
Brandon Burlsworth Rose From Walk-On To All-American but Tragically Died Before Ever Achieving His NFL Dreams
Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sports7 in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sports7, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he's a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie. Growing up loving Shaquille O'Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he's continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives. As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He's barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe's big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level. Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.
Get to know Joe Kozlowski betterUpdated26 Dec 2020
In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. While you might not know his name, Brandon Burlsworth and his college football career deserve to be at the top of the list. His life and career, however, ended in tragedy rather than triumph.
After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. Before he ever hit the gridiron, though, the lineman tragically died in an offseason accident.
Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas
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During the Razorbacks' football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. Few of them, though, have followed the same road as Brandon Burlsworth.
As spelled out in an ESPN college football video, Burlsworth was never the most athletic guy; during high school, he was slow, soft, and didn't see significant playing time until his junior year. He loved the sport, though, and worked his way to all-state honors by the time he graduated.
While he received some offers from smaller schools, Burlsworth wanted to go to the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. He walked onto the team and, despite spending a season as a redshirt on the scout team, proved his worth; ahead of his sophomore year, the offensive lineman had earned a scholarship.
Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign.
A tragic death just days after the NFL draft
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After his rise to prominence at Arkansas, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to make the leap to the NFL. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the lineman's dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick.
Burlsworth never got to join the Colts, though. Just days after the draft, tragedy struck.
As recorded on the Colts' official website, Burlsworth was driving home to Harrison, Arkansas in April 1999; “he wanted to head home, have dinner with his mother, Barbara, and attend a Wednesday night church service.” The lineman, however, would never arrive.
“Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on-coming lane,” the write-up continued. “Two collisions followed, and the life of a wonderful human with vast talents was over.”
Brandon Burlsworth is still making an impact more than 20 years after his tragic death
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Throughout his football career, Brandon Burlsworth never let adversity stop him from achieving his goals. Even though the lineman's life and career ended in tragedy, he's still managing to make an impact more than 20 years later.
After Burslworth's death, those close to him created the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation; according to the foundation's website, the “Christian organization's mission is to support the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those who have limited opportunities. The foundation encourages a strong faith, character, and sportsmanship, developing positive values, and a life pattern that would exemplify ‘Doing It The Burls Way.”
Under the organization's umbrella, there are multiple programs. Eyes of a Champion, for example, helps “provide free vision exams and glasses to low to moderate income, uninsured children.” Burls Kids, which operates in both Arkansas and Indianapolis, brings children to football games and provides them with an unforgettable experience. The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships.
Had he joined the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon Burlsworth probably would have made quite the impact on the football field. While his tragic death may have ended his football career, it didn't stop the lineman's ability to change the world.
