Michigan State University Athletics
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Kenny Willekes Named Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy
11/7/2018 11:59:00 AM | Football
Junior defensive end ranks second in the Big Ten in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (13.5).
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State junior defensive end Kenny Willekes, who ranks second in the Big Ten in sacks (7.5) and tied for second in tackles for loss (13.5), has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy.
The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the Big Ten. Named to the All-Big Ten midseason team by Pro Football Focus, Willekes not only leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (7.5) through the first nine games of the season, but also leads the defensive ends in tackles (51).
According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes leads all defensive ends in the FBS with 15 quarterback hits, and also leads the Big Ten with 48 quarterback pressures.
A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, is MSU's active leader in sacks (12th in school history with 14.5) and tackles for loss (18th in school history with 28). He ranks sixth in the FBS among active career leaders with 1.22 tackles for loss per game (Ed Oliver of Houston leads active players with 1.64 TFL/game), and is seventh among active players with 0.63 sacks per game.
After playing in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016, Willekes earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 with a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Willekes entered this season on the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, and began his junior season with a two-sack performance against Utah State. He has recorded two sacks in a game five times in his career (2017: Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland; 2018: Utah State, Maryland).
The 2017 Burlsworth Trophy winner was quarterback Luke Falk from Washington State University. A three-year starter for WSU, Falk broke the PAC-12 record for career passing yards during his senior season. He is now a member of the Miami Dolphins. The 2015 and 2016 winner was Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, who was the first pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2018 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced Monday, Dec. 3, at 12:45 p.m. at a luncheon in Springdale, Arkansas, hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being 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.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.
2018 BURLSWORTH TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Blake Cashman, Minnesota, LB, Sr.
Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin, ILB, Sr.
Taylor Cornelius, Oklahoma State, QB, Sr.
Marcus Epps, Wyoming, S, Sr.
Quin Ficklin, Utah State, Center, Sr.
Cole Holcomb, North Carolina, LB, Sr.
Patrick Laird, California, RB, Sr.
Lee Morris, Oklahoma, WR, Jr.
Hunter Renfrow, Clemson, WR, Sr.
Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, DE, Jr.
The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
Willekes, who entered the program as a walk-on linebacker for the 2015 season, has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the Big Ten. Named to the All-Big Ten midseason team by Pro Football Focus, Willekes not only leads the Spartans in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (7.5) through the first nine games of the season, but also leads the defensive ends in tackles (51).
According to Pro Football Focus, Willekes leads all defensive ends in the FBS with 15 quarterback hits, and also leads the Big Ten with 48 quarterback pressures.
A chemistry major, Willekes earned a scholarship in the spring of 2017 and hasn't looked back since. The native of Rockford, Michigan, is MSU's active leader in sacks (12th in school history with 14.5) and tackles for loss (18th in school history with 28). He ranks sixth in the FBS among active career leaders with 1.22 tackles for loss per game (Ed Oliver of Houston leads active players with 1.64 TFL/game), and is seventh among active players with 0.63 sacks per game.
After playing in just one game as a redshirt freshman in 2016, Willekes earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 with a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Willekes entered this season on the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, and began his junior season with a two-sack performance against Utah State. He has recorded two sacks in a game five times in his career (2017: Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland; 2018: Utah State, Maryland).
The 2017 Burlsworth Trophy winner was quarterback Luke Falk from Washington State University. A three-year starter for WSU, Falk broke the PAC-12 record for career passing yards during his senior season. He is now a member of the Miami Dolphins. The 2015 and 2016 winner was Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, who was the first pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2018 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced Monday, Dec. 3, at 12:45 p.m. at a luncheon in Springdale, Arkansas, hosted by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with the Springdale Rotary Club.
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being 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.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.
2018 BURLSWORTH TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Blake Cashman, Minnesota, LB, Sr.
Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin, ILB, Sr.
Taylor Cornelius, Oklahoma State, QB, Sr.
Marcus Epps, Wyoming, S, Sr.
Quin Ficklin, Utah State, Center, Sr.
Cole Holcomb, North Carolina, LB, Sr.
Patrick Laird, California, RB, Sr.
Lee Morris, Oklahoma, WR, Jr.
Hunter Renfrow, Clemson, WR, Sr.
Kenny Willekes, Michigan State, DE, Jr.
Players Mentioned
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