EVANSTON, Ill. — Senior wide receiver Austin Carr has been named one of 52 nominees for the 2016 Burlsworth Trophy.

The Burlsworth 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 earlier this year. 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 a FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.

A former walk-on turned team captain, Carr is among the nation's top receivers through eight games. Carr leads the Big Ten in receptions (58), receiving yards (878), receiving yards per game (109.8) and touchdowns (9). He ranks in the top 13 nationally in all four categories.

A native of Benecia, California, Carr is the only player in the FBS to have at least five catches and 73 yards receiving in every game this season and has put together five 100-yard receiving efforts. He set a Northwestern record and has the longest streak in the country this season with six consecutive games with a touchdown catch from Sept. 17 to Oct. 22. His nine receiving touchdowns is tied for the third most in NU single-season history and his 878 yards are the seventh most in a season by a Wildcat.

The 2015 winner of the Burlsworth Trophy was quarterback Baker Mayfield from the University of Oklahoma. Mayfield is believed to be the only true freshman Walk-On QB in FBS history to start a season opener. He also led his Sooners to the college football playoffs last year.

"This is the seventh year of the Burlsworth Trophy and once again we have a very strong group of nominees" said Marty Burlsworth, CEO and founder of the Burlsworth Foundation and older brother of Brandon. "All of these young men have worked extremely hard and have overcome tremendous obstacles to become the players they are today."

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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 5^th in Springdale, AR to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2016 winner.