UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State record-setting quarterback Matt McGloin has been named one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, presented to the nation’s outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.
The Burlsworth Trophy was first presented in 2010 in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former All-American and walk-on offensive lineman at the University of Arkansas. Burlsworth died in an automobile accident 11 days after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
The three finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced Monday (Dec. 3) at a banquet in Springdale, Ark., sponsored by the Springdale Rotary Club. Fans can vote for McGloin daily via the AT&T Fan Vote at www.burlsworthtrophy.com.
A fifth-year senior, McGloin is joined as a Burlsworth Trophy finalist by safety Jordan Kovacs (Michigan) and tackle David Quessenberry (San Jose State). Fifty players were nominated for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy.
"Anytime you are nominated for an award that recognizes on-field performance you want to win it," McGloin said. "This award is special because it recognizes how far people have come and their journey to get there. If not for my family, my coaches and teammates at Penn State it wouldn’t have been possible to be considered for this honor."
McGloin joined the Nittany Lions in 2008 and has emerged as one of Penn State’s most prolific signal-callers in its 126-year history. A starter in 10 games prior to this season, McGloin was named the starting quarterback in June and has flourished in Coach’s Bill O’Brien’s offense, starting all 12 games this year.
The former West Scranton High School standout broke nine school records and tied another during his superlative senior campaign. He was instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions win eight of their last 10 games, earning an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 Big Ten mark, finishing second in the Leaders Division.
For the season, McGloin was 270 of 446 (60.5) for 3,266 yards, with 24 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He also was second on the team with five touchdown runs. An honorable mention All-Big Ten choice, McGloin was selected Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 19 after throwing for 395 yards, just four yards off the school record, and a career-high tying four touchdowns in Penn State’s 45-22 win over Indiana.
McGloin leads the Big Ten in passing yards (272.2 ypg) by more than 25 yards per game. He also leads the conference in completions (270) and touchdown passes (24) and fewest interceptions among the Big Ten starting signal-callers. McGloin threw at least one touchdown pass in his last 13 consecutive regular season games, with multiple TD passes in eight games this season.
Under McGloin’s direction, Penn State led the Big Ten in total offense (437 ypg) in conference games and was second in scoring offense (32.6 ppg) and second in pass offense (283.1 ypg) against Big Ten foes this season. McGloin led the Nittany Lions to more than 500 yards of total offense three times in conference play, topped by 546 yards vs. Indiana, its highest total against a Big Ten foe since gaining 557 yards against Michigan State in 2008.
McGloin’s Penn State records include:
— Career touchdown passes (46)
— Season touchdown passes (24-tied)
— Season completions (270)
— Season passing yardage (3,266)
— Season pass attempts (446)
— Single game completions (35)
— Career 300-yard passing games (6)
— Career 200-yard passing games (18)
— Season 200-yard passing games (11)
— Consecutive 200-yard passing games (10)
McGloin earned his degree in journalism last May and is working on a second degree, in telecommunications.
Fans can vote for McGloin via the AT&T Fan Vote at www.burlsworthtrophy.com. Voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 2; fans are limited to one vote per day. The Fan Vote counts as 5 percent during each round of voting, and it is combined with the results from the Selection Committee. Fan vote totals are cleared after each round.
For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit www.burlsworthtrophy.com.
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