Carlton Martial Named Nominee for Burlsworth Trophy

TROY, Ala. – Troy sophomore linebacker Carlton Martial is one of 83 players nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, the Burlsworth Foundation announced Tuesday. The award is presented annually to the nation's top player who began their career as a walk-on.

Martial's story began as a 5-foot-9 walk-on during a redshirt season in 2017. He earned a scholarship prior to the 2018 season, and now in 2019 is one of the top defensive players in the country.

The Mobile, Ala., native ranks second nationally averaging 1.9 tackles for loss per and is ninth with 10.4 tackles per game. Martial's 15.5 tackles for loss on the year already rank 10^th in Troy history, and he is just 6.5 shy of setting the single-season mark.

Martial has recorded double-digit tackles in four of Troy's eight games this season with nine tackles in two other games. He enters the week second nationally in tackles for loss while ranking ninth in total tackles and forced fumbles.

Despite only being a sophomore, Martial leads all active players in the country in career forced fumbles per game, is fourth in tackles per loss per game and 10^th in total tackles.

Last season, Martial earned Freshman All-America honors and was ranked fifth nationally against the run by Pro Football Focus – three of the four players ahead of him were selected within the first 13 picks of the NFL Draft.

The Bulsworth 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.

Troy University Athletics

Carlton Martial Named Nominee for Burlsworth Trophy

Players Mentioned

Carlton Martial

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