For the second consecutive season, San Diego State junior tight end Kahale Warring has been named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, the Springdale Rotary Club announced Tuesday. Warring is one of 70 student-athletes on the list and one of just seven tight ends.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding collegiate football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Nominees must have started their first season of participation with a Division I football program without financial aid of any kind from their athletic department. The trophy is named in honor of former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth.
Warring, who was given a scholarship prior to the 2017 season, has a team-high 16 catches for 227 yards (14.2 avg.) this year with a team-high-tying two touchdown catches in eight games. Warring is coming off the best game of his career last Saturday at Nevada, setting career highs in catches (6), receiving yards (95) and touchdowns (2). Among SDSU tight ends in a game since 1996, his game against Nevada ranks in a tie for first in touchdowns (2), and a tie for fifth in receiving yards (95) and receptions (6). Among tight ends in a FBS game this year, his game against Nevada ranks in a tie for second in touchdowns (2), a tie for 22nd in catches (6) and a tie for 27th in receiving yards (95).
Over his career, the Sonora, Calif., native has 36 receptions for 492 yards (13.7 avg.) and seven touchdowns.
Previous Aztec nominees for the award include Warring (2017), Daniel Brunskill (2016), Dakota Gordon (2015), Joel Alesi (2014) and Chad Young (2013).
The 2017 winner was Washington State quarterback Luke Falk.
The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation, in conjunction with Springdale Rotary Club, will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 4 in Springdale, Ark., to honor the three finalists and announce the 2018 winner.
SDSU (6-2, 3-1 MW) travels to New Mexico (3-5, 1-3 MW) for a Saturday night game, beginning at 8:15 p.m. MT (7:15 p.m. PT).
Kahale Warring Named a Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
