Milne named semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — BYU junior receiver Dax Milne has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy given annually to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on. 

Milne, a 6-1, 190-pound junior, leads BYU with 63 receptions for 1,118 yards and eight touchdowns. He is currently averaging 101.6 yards per game and 17.7 yards a catch. His total receiving yards ranks No. 4 nationally and his eight touchdowns ranks 12th. Milne is the 17th receiver in BYU history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a season. His 1,118 yards so far this season currently ranks 7th best all-time at BYU. 

Also a 2020 semifinalist for the Belitnikoff Award, Milne is from South Jordan, Utah, and prepped at Bingham High School. He came to BYU as a walk-on athlete in 2018 and made an impact on the field as a freshman. He received a scholarship as a sophomore and had 21 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns. 

Milne set career marks with nine receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns in BYU's 43-26 comeback victory at Houston on Oct. 16, 2020. Milne has six 100-plus yard games this season and three other games with at least 89 yards. 

The 2020 Burlsworth Trophy, in the award’s 11th year, is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER,” which was released in 2016.  

The 2019 winner was defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State University. After receiving no division one scholarship offers, Willekes walked-on at Michigan State, where he became All-American, the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year. 

The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on January 4, 2021 to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2020 winner.

The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced on Monday, Jan. 4 at a virtual ceremony.

2020 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists
Grant Morgan, University of Arkansas, Linebacker, SR
Dax Milne, Brigham Young University, Wide Receiver, JR
Will Spiers, Clemson University, Punter, SR
Sammy Thompson, Coastal Carolina University, Center, SR
Keith Duncan, University of Iowa, Kicker, SR
Calvin Austin III, University of Memphis, Wide Receiver, JR
Chris Bergin, Northwestern University, Linebacker, SR
Ry Schneider, Oklahoma State University, Center, SR 
Jimmy Morrissey, University of Pittsburgh, Center, SR
Carlton Martial, Troy University, Linebacker, JR