FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Cody Moon was named to the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy nominee list for the second consecutive year, the third Lobo to have accomplished the feat. He is one of 81 honorees in the FBS on the list, which was announced by Burlsworth Trophy Foundation. Moon’s current coach Jake Rothschiller and kicker Zack Rogers were also two-time nominees (Rothschiller in 2016-17, Rogers in 2014-15).
In the award’s thirteenth year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth’s life is also the subject of a major motion picture, “GREATER”, which was released in 2016. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department.
Moon is currently in a three-way tie for the team lead in tackles with 61, and he recently moved into the starting lineup at linebacker. A former walk-on with no Division I offers, Moon quickly earned a scholarship. Said head coach Danny Gonzales of Moon. “He’s exactly the kind of New Mexico kid we want in our program, and he’s a great example. He came here as a walk-on and we told him, if you deserve a scholarship, prove me wrong. It didn’t take long for him to do that, and he’s a great example to all the high school players from New Mexico.”