IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior kicker Keith Duncan has been named one of 10 semifinalists for 2020 Burlsworth Trophy, an award presented to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
Duncan was granted a scholarship following his game-winning field goal at Nebraska last season.
Duncan burst onto the football landscape as a freshman connecting on 38-of-39 PATs and 9-of-11 field goals in 2016. In 2019, Duncan was named a consensus All-American, the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year in the Big Ten, and was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award. He converted 29-of-34 field goals to lead the nation and set a Big Ten and school record for made field goals in a season, which ranks sixth all-time in the NCAA in a single season.
This season, Duncan is 14-of-18 on field goal attempts, with three of his four misses from 50 yards or more. Duncan earned his fifth career Big Ten Player of the Week honor, following Iowa’s win over Nebraska. He drained 4-of-5 field goals, including the game-winner from 37 yards. Duncan is a perfect 26-of-26 on PATs this season.
Duncan is Iowa’s all-time career leader in field goal percentage (.825; 52-of-63), and he ranks fourth in career field goals made (52) and sixth in career scoring (252).
Former running back Mark Wesiman was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2014. Three finalists will be announced Dec. 22., and winner of the trophy will be announced Jan. 4, at a virtual ceremony.
Iowa’s game against Michigan on Saturday has been canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Michigan football program. The Hawkeyes will learn their postseason bowl plans Dec. 20.
