FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell is a semifinalist for another prestigious college football trophy, becoming one of 10 players up for the Burlsworth Trophy. Awarded to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on, the Burlsworth Trophy was named after Brandon Burlsworth, who went from a walk-on to an All-American at Arkansas.
Beginning his career as a walk-on and eighth on the quarterback depth chart, O'Connell worked his way up to the starting role and didn't stop there. The sixth-year QB has etched his name in the school record books, and he has continued to rise up the career charts this season. O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 67.0%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (2nd – 13), touchdown passes (6th – 58), passing completions (6th – 735) and passing yards (6th – 8,167).
In his final season as a Boilermaker, O'Connell paces the Big Ten in passing yards per game, averaging 304.8 yards to also rank ninth nationally. The Long Grove, Illinois, native completes 28.6 passes per game, fourth most in the country. Stacking up against his fellow Big Ten quarterbacks, O'Connell is the only conference QB to average more than 300 passing yards in conference play (300.5 yards per game).
In his 13 300-yard games over his career, O'Connell has eclipsed 350 yards in 12 of them. Prior to last week, he threw for more than 300 yards in three straight games, accomplishing the feat for the second time in his career. Drew Brees and Jim Everett are the only other QBs in Purdue history to produce three straight 300-yard games twice over a career.
O'Connell is also a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier community service award.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on November 15. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on December 5 at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being 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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
O'Connell and the Boilermakers return to the road this weekend, traveling to Illinois for a B1G divisional matchup. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
2022 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists
Beginning his career as a walk-on and eighth on the quarterback depth chart, O'Connell worked his way up to the starting role and didn't stop there. The sixth-year QB has etched his name in the school record books, and he has continued to rise up the career charts this season. O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 67.0%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (2nd – 13), touchdown passes (6th – 58), passing completions (6th – 735) and passing yards (6th – 8,167).
In his final season as a Boilermaker, O'Connell paces the Big Ten in passing yards per game, averaging 304.8 yards to also rank ninth nationally. The Long Grove, Illinois, native completes 28.6 passes per game, fourth most in the country. Stacking up against his fellow Big Ten quarterbacks, O'Connell is the only conference QB to average more than 300 passing yards in conference play (300.5 yards per game).
In his 13 300-yard games over his career, O'Connell has eclipsed 350 yards in 12 of them. Prior to last week, he threw for more than 300 yards in three straight games, accomplishing the feat for the second time in his career. Drew Brees and Jim Everett are the only other QBs in Purdue history to produce three straight 300-yard games twice over a career.
O'Connell is also a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier community service award.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on November 15. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on December 5 at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Burlsworth walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being 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, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
O'Connell and the Boilermakers return to the road this weekend, traveling to Illinois for a B1G divisional matchup. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
2022 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists
| School | Name | Position | Year |
| Buffalo | Shaun Dolac | LB | JR |
| BYU | Payton Wilgar | LB | JR |
| Charlotte | Chris Reynolds | QB | SR |
| Florida State | Treshaun Ward | RB | Soph |
| Georgia | Stetson Bennett | QB | SR |
| LSU | Josh Williams | RB | JR |
| Oregon | Ryan Walk | OL | SR |
| Purdue | Aidan O'Connell | QB | SR |
| Troy | Carlton Martial | LB | SR |
| Wisconsin | John Torchio | S | SR |