Washington County’s Brooks up for Burlsworth Trophy

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Djimon Brooks’ senior season has gone that well team-wise, Georgia Tech at 3-6 overall, but it has been memorable personally.

          And the Washington County graduate can add to the resume as a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy.

          It goes to the top FBS player who began his career as a walk-on and progressed to be a major producer.

          That’s Brooks.

          Overlooked or given a thanks-but-no-thanks from programs on just about all levels – from major colleges to FCS, and so on – mostly because of his height, Brooks was a true walk-on who tried out for the Yellow Jackets in 2016.

          He got into one game his first two seasons, then got attention and snaps from then-new head coach Geoff Collins in 2019, starting four times at defensive tackle.

          Brooks was rewarded before the 2020 season with a scholarship, and has doubled his tackle total in fewer games.

          He was given the jersey number 0, a tribute by Collins to team leaders. It matched how many offers Brooks got while in high school.

          Brooks and other seniors will be honored on Thursday at 7 p.m. when Tech hosts Pittsburgh in the final home game of the season.

          The Burlsworth Trophy was started in 2010 in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. He went from a walk-on at Arkansas to an All-American picked in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft, but he was killed in a car accident a few days after the draft.

          Georgia Tech’s Sean Bedford was the first winner, in 2010. Baker Mayfield is a two-time winner as well as finalist, Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow won in 2018, and Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was a finalist in 2019.