Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Hickey
Riley Miller Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
October 31, 2018 | Football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ball State football standout Riley Miller was one of five players from the Mid-American Conference nominated for the 2018 Burlsworth Trophy. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
Miller, a junior from Yorktown, Indiana, has emerged as the Cardinals' top wide receiver this fall. Miller leads the team in receiving yards (612) and ranks third in the MAC in catches (46). He owns touchdown receptions in four of the last five games. Last week at Ohio, Miller's toe-tapping catch along the side of the end zone earned the No. 5 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's 'Top-10 Plays' the next morning.
Miller posted career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (208) in the win over Kent State on Sept. 29. He became the first Cardinal to top 200 yards receiving since Willie Snead IV in 2012.
A three-sport athlete at Yorktown High School, Miller joined the Ball State football team in 2015 as a preferred walk-on. After redshirting in 2015 and seeing limited action in 2016, Miller earned a scholarship during preseason camp in 2017. He went on to finish second on the team in receptions and receiving yards last year.
In the award's ninth year, the Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on at 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.
The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with Springdale Rotary Club, will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 3 in Springdale, Arkansas, to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2018 winner.
Former Cardinals Jake Richard (OL, 2015) and Jamill Smith, WR, 2012, 2013) were the most recent Ball State players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy.
For more information on the Burlsworth Trophy, please visit burlsworthytrophy.com.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
Miller, a junior from Yorktown, Indiana, has emerged as the Cardinals' top wide receiver this fall. Miller leads the team in receiving yards (612) and ranks third in the MAC in catches (46). He owns touchdown receptions in four of the last five games. Last week at Ohio, Miller's toe-tapping catch along the side of the end zone earned the No. 5 spot on ESPN SportsCenter's 'Top-10 Plays' the next morning.
Miller posted career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (208) in the win over Kent State on Sept. 29. He became the first Cardinal to top 200 yards receiving since Willie Snead IV in 2012.
A three-sport athlete at Yorktown High School, Miller joined the Ball State football team in 2015 as a preferred walk-on. After redshirting in 2015 and seeing limited action in 2016, Miller earned a scholarship during preseason camp in 2017. He went on to finish second on the team in receptions and receiving yards last year.
In the award's ninth year, the Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on at 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.
The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with Springdale Rotary Club, will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 3 in Springdale, Arkansas, to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2018 winner.
Former Cardinals Jake Richard (OL, 2015) and Jamill Smith, WR, 2012, 2013) were the most recent Ball State players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy.
For more information on the Burlsworth Trophy, please visit burlsworthytrophy.com.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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