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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The list will be narrowed down to three eventual finalists, with the winner being announced during a live ceremony on Dec. 8.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The list will be narrowed down to three eventual finalists, with the winner being announced during a live ceremony on Dec. 8.
Players Mentioned
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