STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State team captain Kody Schexnayder is one of 83 student-athletes nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation announced Tuesday. The honor is presented each year to the best player in the country who started his career as a walk-on.

Schexnayder, from New Orleans, was voted by his teammates as one of five team captains for the 2019 season during fall camp and then was put on scholarship a few days before Mississippi State’s season opener. He serves as the Bulldogs’ holder for place kicks and also as a backup punter.

He has punted 28 times for 1,018 yards and a 36.4 average during his career. The longest punt of his career was 52 yards as a freshman against Texas A&M in 2016.

The Burlsworth Trophy is named for former Arkansas All-American Brandon Burlsworth, who began his career with the Razorbacks as a walk-on before developing into a third-round NFL Draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Burlsworth died in an automobile accident on his way home to Harrison 11 days after being drafted.