Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Jonathan Kim Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
11/7/2024 3:30:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State sixth-year graduate kicker Jonathan Kim has been nominated for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy, which is annually 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.
Seventy-eight players have been nominated from FBS schools from across the country for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy. 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.
Each nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy 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 Division I 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.
Kim began his collegiate career as a walk-on at North Carolina during the 2019 season. After leading the FBS with 76 touchbacks on 89 kickoffs (85 percent) in 2020, Kim was awarded a scholarship in the spring semester of 2021 and spent two more years with the Tar Heels as a kickoff specialist.
He transferred to Michigan State in the summer of 2023 after earning his undergraduate degree at North Carolina and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades in his first year as a Spartan after leading the team in scoring with 56 points; he was 13-of-18 on field-goal attempts, including a Kinnick Stadium record 58-yarder at Iowa, and was 17-of-17 on point-after attempts.
This season, Kim leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for fourth in the FBS with 17 made field goals (17-of-19).
Kim earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week accolades and was named one of the three Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week after setting a school record with six made field goals in the Homecoming win over Iowa on Oct. 19.
A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Kim connected on six of his seven field-goal attempts against the Hawkeyes, including a season-long 55-yarder in the fourth quarter, which tied for the sixth longest in MSU history. He also was good from 42, 43, 36, 29 and 46 yards out.
Kim's six field goals passed the previous school record of five set by Paul Edinger (1998 vs. Northwestern and Ohio State) and John Langeloh (1988 vs. Wisconsin). It also tied a modern-day Big Ten record, matching Jake Moody of Michigan with six field goals vs. Indiana (11/17/18), and is tied for the most in a Big Ten conference game; E.C. Robertson of Purdue kicked seven field goals on Oct. 27, 1900, vs. Rose Poly. With 20 points overall against Iowa, including two PATs, Kim also set a top mark in modern-day Big Ten history by a kicker, bettering the 19 points by Moody in 2018 vs. Indiana.
Kim also kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal with one second remaining to help MSU past Maryland, 27-24, on Sept. 7 in College Park. In addition, he hit a 50-yarder as time expired in the first half against the Terrapins. Kim is 3-of-4 on field goals of 50-plus yards this season.
The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2024 winner will be on Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
MSU All-America defensive end Kenny Willekes became the first Spartan to win the Burlsworth Trophy in 2019.
Seventy-eight players have been nominated from FBS schools from across the country for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy. 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.
Each nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy 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 Division I 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.
Kim began his collegiate career as a walk-on at North Carolina during the 2019 season. After leading the FBS with 76 touchbacks on 89 kickoffs (85 percent) in 2020, Kim was awarded a scholarship in the spring semester of 2021 and spent two more years with the Tar Heels as a kickoff specialist.
He transferred to Michigan State in the summer of 2023 after earning his undergraduate degree at North Carolina and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades in his first year as a Spartan after leading the team in scoring with 56 points; he was 13-of-18 on field-goal attempts, including a Kinnick Stadium record 58-yarder at Iowa, and was 17-of-17 on point-after attempts.
This season, Kim leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for fourth in the FBS with 17 made field goals (17-of-19).
Kim earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week accolades and was named one of the three Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week after setting a school record with six made field goals in the Homecoming win over Iowa on Oct. 19.
A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Kim connected on six of his seven field-goal attempts against the Hawkeyes, including a season-long 55-yarder in the fourth quarter, which tied for the sixth longest in MSU history. He also was good from 42, 43, 36, 29 and 46 yards out.
Kim's six field goals passed the previous school record of five set by Paul Edinger (1998 vs. Northwestern and Ohio State) and John Langeloh (1988 vs. Wisconsin). It also tied a modern-day Big Ten record, matching Jake Moody of Michigan with six field goals vs. Indiana (11/17/18), and is tied for the most in a Big Ten conference game; E.C. Robertson of Purdue kicked seven field goals on Oct. 27, 1900, vs. Rose Poly. With 20 points overall against Iowa, including two PATs, Kim also set a top mark in modern-day Big Ten history by a kicker, bettering the 19 points by Moody in 2018 vs. Indiana.
Kim also kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal with one second remaining to help MSU past Maryland, 27-24, on Sept. 7 in College Park. In addition, he hit a 50-yarder as time expired in the first half against the Terrapins. Kim is 3-of-4 on field goals of 50-plus yards this season.
The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2024 winner will be on Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
MSU All-America defensive end Kenny Willekes became the first Spartan to win the Burlsworth Trophy in 2019.
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