Heel Tough Blog: Xavier Lewis Named Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy
For the second time this week, Tar Heel defensive lineman Xavier Lewis has landed on a semifinalist list for a prestigious award.
The Burlsworth Trophy released their list of ten semifinalists for the award that is handed out to the nation’s most outstanding player that began his career as a walk-on on Friday afternoon. Lewis is in his second season with the Tar Heels after coming in as walk-on prior to last season.
The Burlsworth Trophy has been given out each season since 2010 by the Burlsworth Foundation in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, an offensive lineman from the Arkansas Razorbacks who played for the team from 1995 to 1998, beginning his career as a walk-on and eventually becoming an All-American.
Lewis, a sophomore who began his career as a walk-on, is one of the best stories on this Tar Heel team this season. After a breakout performance in the opener where he finished with seven total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and five total quarterback pressures, things have evened out a little bit for him, but he’s still having an impressive season. In 516 played across the first nine games of the year, he has recorded 43 total tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and 32 total quarterback pressures.
This feels like the more winnable award for Lewis than the Bednarik, but he still has some worthy challengers here led by Tennessee running back Desean Bishop and Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestamaker. It feels like he needs to return to his early season form to have a chance to beat out some of these lofty competitors.
The trophy will be awarded at the Burlsworth Trophy Award Show on December 7th in Bentonville, AR.
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