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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Jacob Thomas Named a Nominee for 2025 Burlsworth Trophy
11/5/2025 12:50:00 PM | Football
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – James Madison senior safety Jacob Thomas was recognized as a nominee for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on.
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Thomas is one of 79 players across the Football Bowl Subdivision to be a nominee for the award, which is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman.
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The Ashburn, Va., native was a walk-on during his first two seasons at JMU, which included being a full-time starter in 2023 as a true sophomore. Before enrolling as a preferred walk-on, Thomas received zero FBS scholarship offers coming out of Stone Bridge High School.
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A 2024 Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID Second Team All-State selection, Thomas is on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
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To date, Thomas has registered 168 career tackles with 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 44 career games, 33 of which have been starts.
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This is the third straight season JMU has had a Burlsworth Trophy nominee. Thomas joins Tyler Purdy (2024) and James Carpenter (2023), as Carpenter was a finalist during his final year at JMU.
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The list will be narrowed down to three eventual finalists, with the winner being announced during a live ceremony on Dec. 8.
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Thomas is one of 79 players across the Football Bowl Subdivision to be a nominee for the award, which is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman.
Â
The Ashburn, Va., native was a walk-on during his first two seasons at JMU, which included being a full-time starter in 2023 as a true sophomore. Before enrolling as a preferred walk-on, Thomas received zero FBS scholarship offers coming out of Stone Bridge High School.
Â
A 2024 Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID Second Team All-State selection, Thomas is on the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.
Â
To date, Thomas has registered 168 career tackles with 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 44 career games, 33 of which have been starts.
Â
This is the third straight season JMU has had a Burlsworth Trophy nominee. Thomas joins Tyler Purdy (2024) and James Carpenter (2023), as Carpenter was a finalist during his final year at JMU.
Â
The list will be narrowed down to three eventual finalists, with the winner being announced during a live ceremony on Dec. 8.
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Players Mentioned
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