Arkansas LB Grant Morgan proud to earn Burlsworth Trophy.

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas senior linebacker Grant Morgan was aglow late Tuesday night surrounded by family, friends and Razorback personnel after winning the Burlsworth Trophy as the top college football player in 2021 who began his career as a walk-on.

Morgan was most pleased the event was held in person, unlike last year, when he was a finalist but lost out to Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrissey in a ceremony that was held entirely on video chat.

The sixth-year senior from Greenwood repeatedly lavished praise on the fellow finalists: 5-9 Troy linebacker Carlon Martial and 5-11 Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.

“Honestly, I would have been upset if I didn’t win it. But the thing is, those two athletes right there, they were great athletes,” Morgan said. “They deserve to be there. They hold a trophy, too.

“We’re all winners. … I’m so happy I won it. I think I deserved it.”

So did Morgan’s brother Drew, a standout receiver at Arkansas who wrapped up his career in 2016 and is now an assistant coach at Elkins High School.

“This is surreal,” Drew Morgan said. “I feel like I’m back in college again. He deserves it. He deserves more. He earned it and he’s going to continue to earn it.

“You can win any award you want to as long as you put your heart and mind into it. Being a walk-on, he’s proven that. To be able to be right there by Burlsworth, that’s big.”

The trophy is named after former Arkansas AllAmerica offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth of Harrison, who died in a car accident in April 1999, soon after becoming a thirdround NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts.

Morgan was also one of 13 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is known as the “academic Heisman Trophy” of college football and was awarded late Tuesday in Las Vega,. He is also one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which will be presented Feb. 17.

Morgan had lots of support from former Razorbacks on Monday, as well as Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman and assistants like Dowell Loggains and Michael Scherer, Morgan’s position coach.

“It’s awesome for him,” Scherer said. “He deserves it. Long time in the making and just happy for Grant and everything he’s accomplished, that he’s getting some recognition for it.

“He plays the position of linebacker the way it’s supposed to be played.”