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COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri running back Cody Schrader is one of three finalists for the 14th-annual Burlsworth Trophy.
Schrader – also named the Doak Walker Award Running Back of the Week Tuesday – joins James Madison NG James Carpenter and Oklahoma WR Drake Stoops on the finalist list. The Burlsworth Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
From the Burlsworth Trophy Release:
Schrader, a St. Louis, Mo., native, proved for three years he could dominate the NCAA Division II ranks. The 5-foot-9, 214-pounder has done very well against the SEC, too, giving Missouri an unexpected lift the past two seasons.
After leading the Tigers with more than 700 rushing yards last season as walk-on transfer from Truman (Mo.) State, Schrader has been even better in 2023 running for 1,124 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. That is tops in the SEC for the Tigers, who are 8-2, overall, and 4-2 in the SEC, with two games left. In a 36-7 week 10 home win over Tennessee, Schrader became the first SEC player and 10th player in FBS history with 200-plus rushing yards and 100-plus receiving yards in the same game. He finished with 321 total yards and his 205 rushing yards marked the sixth time this season he’s crossed the 100-yard mark.
The Lutheran High School South product was unheralded when he arrived in Kirksville, Mo., to start his collegiate career despite breaking numerous school records at Lutheran. However, after redshirting for the Bulldogs, he became a small-college star. In his final season in 2021, he ran for a Division II-leading 2,074 yards on 300 carries with 24 touchdowns eclipsing the 100-yard mark five times.
Schrader, who carried a 4.0 GPA his junior and senior years of high school, earned his college degree last December.
Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2023 Burlsworth Trophy will be announced December 4, at 7 pm CT at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
UP NEXT
The Tigers close their home schedule when they host the Florida Gators on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. The game will kick at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN.
LIMITED TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Limited reserved seats and Hill tickets are available for the Florida game by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or buying online.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Athletics, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Missouri football (@MizzouFootball) and Coach Drinkwitz (@CoachDrinkwitz) on X. You can also find the Tigers on Instagram and Facebook.
ABOUT THE BURLSWORTH TROPHY
The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon 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. For a full narrative of the Foundation’s work, visit brandonburlsworth.org.
