Wisconsin Wide Receiver Wins Burlsworth Trophy

  STAFF PHOTOS ANTHONY REYES 
Jared Abbrederis, senior wide receiver for the University of Wisconsin, accepts the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale. The award, presented by the Springdale Rotary Club, is given to an outstanding college football player who started as a walk-on.
STAFF PHOTOS ANTHONY REYES Jared Abbrederis, senior wide receiver for the University of Wisconsin, accepts the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale. The award, presented by the Springdale Rotary Club, is given to an outstanding college football player who started as a walk-on.

— Jared Abbrederis’ football career nearly came to an end twice.

The first time was when he suffered a traumatic leg injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and breaking his femur in a game as a high school sophomore. His doctor didn’t know if he’d be able to play football again, but he made a surprisingly quick recovery and placed in the hurdles at the state track meet just six months from the day of the injury.

“It was a miracle,” Abbrederis said.

The second came when he was set to run college track at home-state Wisconsin as a senior in high school. His plans changed when he was offered and accepted a walk-on spot for the football team after sending game tape to the Badgers’ coaching staff, headed by now-Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.

Abbrederis’ perseverance was rewarded Monday when he won the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually in memory of former Arkansas walk-on-turned-All-American Brandon Burlsworth to college football’s top player who began their career as a walk-on.

“You just think about the hard work that you’ve put in through the years to bring you where you are today,” Abbrederis said. “All those memories come back. And you’re definitely honored and blessed.”

Abbrederis won the award over fellow finalists Missouri offensive guard Max Copeland and Tulsa running back Trey Watts. His name was added to a list of Burlsworth Trophy winners that include Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin (2012), Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis (2011) and Georgia Tech center Sean Bedford (2010).

The Wisconsin receiver was already familiar with the award entering his senior season after being nominated the previous two years and making the semifinalist cut last year.

“Especially after last year, being a semifinalist, I looked it up and saw the information and the story,” Abbrederis said. “It’s definitely something that I’m proud to be a part of. Brandon Burlsworth, like they were talking about early, is just a great guy and kind of set the standard for us.”

Abbrederis was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection last year, then earned the honor again last week after catching 73 passes for 1,051 yards and seven touchdowns for the 9-3 Badgers.

He ranks second in Wisconsin history in career receptions (197), receiving yards (3,110) and touchdown catches (23). That productivity has made the former walk-on a potential first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

“Football right now is the top priority,” Abbrederis said during an in-ceremony interview. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid. So we’ll chase that dream as long as it goes.”

Abbrederis was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy by an eight-man selection committee that includes former Alabama coach Gene Stallings, former NFL coach Dan Reeves and former Arkansas coaches Frank Broyles, Ken Hatfield and Danny Ford.

Several members of the selection committee and other honored guests were unable to attend the ceremony, in part because of the inclement weather in the area the last few days, but Broyles and Hatfield were among those in attendance.

Bedford, the inaugural award winner, was also present and addressed the crowd at the Holiday Inn Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.

“I’d also like to congratulate our three finalists and say, ‘I know what this means,’” Bedford said. “And I hope you are all soaking this in and you’re aware of just how special this is. Because it’s not easy to get here as a walk-on. You all are the best of the best. You chose to take the hard way, not the easy way. It really is special.”

The ceremony was emceed by ESPN football analyst Robert Smith, a former top running back recruit and star at Ohio State and in the NFL.

“I didn’t have to go through what these guys went through,” Smith said. “But I certainly had an opportunity to see players who went through what they went through. … With the class of players I came in with, I saw a guy earn a scholarship. It’s really incredible. And I think it says a lot about them. And I think that they epitomize what college football’s all about.”

Abbrederis admitted to being a little nervous as Smith announced the trophy winner with the three finalists sitting side-by-side onstage.

“It was three people that deserve it among others that aren’t here today,” Abbrederis said. “But either way, I was going to be happy for whoever got it. It was kind of a little bit nerve-wracking thinking, ‘Who are they going to call.’ … (I’m) just honored.”

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