STANFORD, Calif. - Fifth-year senior Conrad Ukropina was named a candidate for the Burlsworth Trophy by the Springdale Rotary Club on Tuesday. 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.
Ukropina holds the school record with 87 consecutive made extra points, and is currently the most accurate kicker in Stanford history with a career field goal percentage of 81.1 percent (30-of-37). The Pasadena, California, native was awarded a scholarship prior to the win at USC last season and went on to set single-season school records with 67 made extra points and a 90.0 field goal percentage. He was also a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection last season.
Through eight games this season, Ukropina has made 10-of-13 field goal attempts and all 13 extra points to lead the Cardinal in scoring with 43 points.
In the award's seventh year, the 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 2015 winner was quarterback Baker Mayfield from Oklahoma.
Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 5 in Springdale, Arkansas, to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2016 winner.