DALLAS — UTSA offensive lineman Spencer Burford has earned a spot on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced on Tuesday.
Burford is one of 80 FBS players, including one of three from Conference USA, on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman on offense or defense.
Burford earned second-team all-conference and first-team Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College honors last season after appearing in 11 games and drawing 10 starts at right or left tackle. The San Antonio Wagner High School product helped the offense break UTSA single-season records for rushing yards (2,585), rushing yards per game (215.4), yards per rush (5.21) and rushing touchdowns (24) last fall. He allowed just three hits on the quarterback and four sacks in 388 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Burford helped the Roadrunners pile up a program-record 624 yards of offense, including a school-record 443 on the ground, in a 49-17 win over North Texas in the 2020 regular season finale. He started at left tackle in the 52-21 victory over UTEP, helping the Roadrunners tally 600 yards of offense, and he drew the starting nod at right tackle and helped the offense pile up 330 rushing yards in the 51-48 double-overtime win at Texas State in the season opener.
The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from three finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
The recipient of the 2021 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 12, 2022.
The Outland Trophy, celebrating 75 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
The Outland Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.
Season tickets for UTSA's 2021 home schedule are on sale now. Please call or text 210-458-UTSA (8872) or click here. Payment plans for all season ticket packages are available.
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