University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Jimmy Morrissey Selected Winner of the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy
1/4/2021 2:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt senior center Jimmy Morrissey was named the 2020 season's winner of the Burlsworth Trophy that is annually presented to the most outstanding player in college football who began his career as a walk-on student-athlete, it was announced on Monday afternoon.
"I am extremely honored to win this award," said an emotional Morrissey during his acceptance speech. "This award has been a goal of mine. Being a walk-on is a hard journey, but it is extremely rewarding. In the game of football, you get back what you put into it. Thank you to the Burlsworth Trophy."
During an online ceremony, the Burlsworth Trophy announced Morrissey as the recipient of this year's award over fellow finalists wide receiver Dax Milne of BYU and linebacker Grant Wilson of Arkansas.
Morrissey joins the likes of Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, Michigan State's Kenny Willekes, Clemson's Hunter Renfrow and others as a winner of the award that honors former Arkansas walk-on great and Indianapolis Colts pick Brandon Burlsworth, who tragically died just days after being drafted in 1999.
Morrissey recently completed his fourth consecutive season as Pitt's starting center. He started all 47 games that he played for the Panthers and is considered one of the top center prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Following the season, Morrissey was named to the All-ACC Football Team for the third consecutive year. He is the first Pitt center to be a three-time All-ACC honoree.
A native of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., the La Salle College High School product joined Pitt as a walk-on before the 2016 season and redshirted.
Shortly after winning a contested battle for the starting center spot ahead of the 2017 campaign, Morrissey was awarded a scholarship by head coach Pat Narduzzi and quickly established himself as a superlative student-athlete—on and off the field.
Beyond his repeated All-ACC credentials on the gridiron, Morrissey has been selected to the All-ACC Academic Football Team three times and became a member of Pitt's prestigious Blue & Gold Society, an undergraduate campus organization composed of top students who serve as ambassadors for the university and Pitt Alumni Association.
A rare two-time team captain for the Panthers, Morrissey also earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing before enrolling in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
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"I am extremely honored to win this award," said an emotional Morrissey during his acceptance speech. "This award has been a goal of mine. Being a walk-on is a hard journey, but it is extremely rewarding. In the game of football, you get back what you put into it. Thank you to the Burlsworth Trophy."
During an online ceremony, the Burlsworth Trophy announced Morrissey as the recipient of this year's award over fellow finalists wide receiver Dax Milne of BYU and linebacker Grant Wilson of Arkansas.
Morrissey joins the likes of Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, Michigan State's Kenny Willekes, Clemson's Hunter Renfrow and others as a winner of the award that honors former Arkansas walk-on great and Indianapolis Colts pick Brandon Burlsworth, who tragically died just days after being drafted in 1999.
Morrissey recently completed his fourth consecutive season as Pitt's starting center. He started all 47 games that he played for the Panthers and is considered one of the top center prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Following the season, Morrissey was named to the All-ACC Football Team for the third consecutive year. He is the first Pitt center to be a three-time All-ACC honoree.
A native of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., the La Salle College High School product joined Pitt as a walk-on before the 2016 season and redshirted.
Shortly after winning a contested battle for the starting center spot ahead of the 2017 campaign, Morrissey was awarded a scholarship by head coach Pat Narduzzi and quickly established himself as a superlative student-athlete—on and off the field.
Beyond his repeated All-ACC credentials on the gridiron, Morrissey has been selected to the All-ACC Academic Football Team three times and became a member of Pitt's prestigious Blue & Gold Society, an undergraduate campus organization composed of top students who serve as ambassadors for the university and Pitt Alumni Association.
A rare two-time team captain for the Panthers, Morrissey also earned his bachelor's degree in finance and marketing before enrolling in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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