Nov. 25, 2014
- Hawkeye Football Game Day
- 2014 Fall Camp Central
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- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior running back Mark Weisman is one of three finalists for the fifth annual Burlsworth Trophy. The award is presented annually to the outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
The award will be announced Monday, Dec. 8, at a ceremony in Springdale, Arkansas, and is presented by the Springdale Rotary Club. Joining Weisman as finalists are East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy and Mississippi State offensive guard Ben Beckwith.
Weisman (6-foot, 240-pounds), is a native of Buffalo Grove, Illinois (Stevenson High School). He has led the Hawkeyes in rushing in each of the past two seasons and is Iowa’s leading rusher through 11 games this season. He has carried the ball for 720 yards on 182 attempts, scoring 14 touchdowns. The 14 touchdowns rank fifth-best in a season at Iowa.
In three seasons, Weisman has 568 rushing attempts for 2,510 yards and 30 touchdowns. He is the third player in Iowa history to record 30 rushing touchdowns. He ranks fourth in career rushing attempts, eighth in rushing yards, and 12th in career scoring (186 points, one receiving touchdown). Weisman is one of eight Hawkeye running backs to rush for more than 2,200 yards and score more than 20 touchdowns.
Weisman excels in the classroom, as he was named to the 2014 Capital One District 6 Academic All-America first team. He holds a 3.32 grade-point average and is majoring in health and human physiology. He earned academic All-Big Ten recognition in 2012 and 2013 and is a three-time honoree on the UI Dean’s List.
The Burlsworth Award is named in honor of former Arkansas player Brandon Burlsworth. After earning All-America honors in 1998, Burlsworth was the 63rd selection in the 1999 NFL Draft before being killed in a car accident 11 days after the draft.
Iowa (7-4 overall, 4-3 Big Ten) hosts Nebraska on Friday (11:05 a.m., ABC) in the annual Hy-Vee Heroes Game. The Hawkeyes are bowl eligible for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons.
Tickets are on sale for Friday’s game at hawkeyesports.com, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
