CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina redshirt junior wide receiver Jameson Tucker is one of of 78 players nominated from Division 1 (FBS) schools from across the country for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy, it was announced today.

Tucker, a 6-2, 190-pound native of Mauldin, S.C., walked-on to the Coastal football program in 2021. After redshirting his first season, Tucker played primarily on special teams in 2022, playing in eight games and blocking a punt against East Carolina in the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl. After being put on scholarship in the fall of 2023, Tucker set the school record with 21.2 yards per reception as a redshirt sophomore, catching 20 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns. As a redshirt junior, Tucker was named a team captain and is Coastal's leading receiver in 2024 with 22 catches for 414 yards and four touchdowns. 

In the award's 15th 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 American 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 (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.

"The walk-on athlete is an integral part of college football, it's in the very fabric of the game," said Marty Burlsworth,President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. "All of these nominees have embraced this opportunity and made the very most of it. It's certainly not an easy path, but through hard work and determination, they have made their dreams come true."

Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of 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, particularly those children who have limited opportunities.

The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2024 winner will be on December 9, at 7:00pm CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.