Ball State University Athletics
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Cody Rudy nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
November 02, 2021 | Football
Senior fullback up for national award given to former walk-on
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ball State football's Cody Rudy was one of 88 players across the country nominated for the annual Burlsworth Trophy, the organization announced Tuesday.
In the award's 12th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016.
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. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D-I) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Rudy is one of seven nominees from the Mid-American Conference and is one of two fullbacks up for the award, joining Arizona State's Case Hatch.
Recent Cardinals who have been nominated for the award include Riley Miller (WR, 2018-19), Jake Richard (OL, 2015) and Jamill Smith (WR, 2012-13).
Rudy began his career as a walk-on prior to the 2016 season after arriving from a successful four-year career at Shenandoah High School in Middletown, Ind.
After redshirting the 2016 season, Rudy has gone on to appear in 51 games for Ball State with four regular season games remaining in the 2021 campaign.
The redshirt fifth year made the switch from linebacker to fullback and made a majority of his appearances on special teams before earning the starting nod at fullback.
Also a member of the team's leadership council, Rudy has earned Academic All-MAC honors in each of the last three seasons.
Coming off a bye week, Rudy and the Cardinals are set to kick off the first of four consecutive midweek conference games to close out the regular season, beginning with Akron Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET.
In the award's 12th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016.
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. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D-I) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Rudy is one of seven nominees from the Mid-American Conference and is one of two fullbacks up for the award, joining Arizona State's Case Hatch.
Recent Cardinals who have been nominated for the award include Riley Miller (WR, 2018-19), Jake Richard (OL, 2015) and Jamill Smith (WR, 2012-13).
Rudy began his career as a walk-on prior to the 2016 season after arriving from a successful four-year career at Shenandoah High School in Middletown, Ind.
After redshirting the 2016 season, Rudy has gone on to appear in 51 games for Ball State with four regular season games remaining in the 2021 campaign.
The redshirt fifth year made the switch from linebacker to fullback and made a majority of his appearances on special teams before earning the starting nod at fullback.
Also a member of the team's leadership council, Rudy has earned Academic All-MAC honors in each of the last three seasons.
Coming off a bye week, Rudy and the Cardinals are set to kick off the first of four consecutive midweek conference games to close out the regular season, beginning with Akron Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET.
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