Most football fans follow the ball. Some of us, watch the line of scrimmage and catch the ball movement on the replay. During live games, I just want to know what’s going on in the trenches. On the recorded games I play it back and forth and watch each individual player. On televised games, it’s hard to watch the secondary so you need real game film like coaches use.

Watching Arkansas Razorback Brandon Burlsworth, back in the day, was like watching a video on how the Offensive Guard position should be played.

Looking back on it, there’s no way that Burlsworth would not have been a multi year All Pro Offensive Guard. He was almost perfect in every way on the football field.

With the off season almost upon us, I would like to recommend another good read on the game of football.

Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story by Jeff Kinley is a good explanation as to why

Burlsworth was such a good Offensive Lineman. I highly recommend it, but I also have a word of warning. It’s pretty sad.

Growing up in the state of Arkansas, most little boys want to play football at the University of Arkansas. One of those boys was a kid from the small town of Harrison, Arkansas. Harrison has about 13,000 people in it’s city limits and is about 73 miles almost due East of Fayetteville, which is the lovely home of the Arkansas Razorbacks. It’s nestled in the hills and mountains of Northwestern Arkansas and is a scenic place to watch a football game, but more so if you are a Razorback fan and not a visitor.

Brandon Burlsworth was no different than most every other kid in the state of Arkansas. He grew up dreaming of being a Razorback, putting those pads on and running out in front of all of those screaming fans on a Fall Saturday. Sooooey Pig!

But, then Brandon Burlsworth was also different than most kids. Let’s just say he was more focused than most.

Brandon played football at Harrison High School and was good enough to make All State. But, he was sort of on the fat side weighing in at probably around 290 to 300 pounds.

He was offered scholarships from a few smaller schools, but his heart was always set on playing at Arkansas. When he received the opportunity to Walk-on at Arkansas, he jumped all over it.

Danny Ford  was the head coach at Arkansas in those years. When Brandon made it to campus, he was around 300 pounds. But, he was fat and didn’t carry the weight well. The coaches told him he needed to lose weight and then work really hard in the gym to replace the fat with muscle.

Brandon, being Brandon Burlsworth, did exactly that. He dropped down to around 260 pounds and in true Brandon fashion, worked his butt off in the gym. Brandon is very teachable and a hard worker.

By the time he was finished, but you are never really finished working out, Brandon was back to 300 pounds. But, this time it was different, he was mostly muscle.

Burlsworth redshirted as a freshman.

He was a sophomore in 1996 and the Hog coaching staff put him on scholarship and he won the starting job at one of the Offensive Guard positions.

In 1997, people really noticed Burlsworth and he made All SEC. He also looked a lot like comedian

Drew Carey with his black framed glasses inside his football helmet.

But, Arkansas finished 4-7 in 1997, so they fired Danny Ford and they hired former Arkansas and Oklahoma State Quarterback Houston Nutt.

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Brandon Burlsworth was not only All SEC in 1998, he was also a first team All American. The one time fat boy, was now a muscular man and a big time Offensive Lineman, and one of the very best in the entire nation.

In the meantime, Brandon’s work ethic also showed up in the classroom. He had already graduated and gotten his master’s degree.

The Razorbacks finished their 1998 season with a 9-2 record and earned a Citrus Bowl berth against Lloyd Carr’s Michigan Wolverines. The game is televised from time to time and it would be a good chance at viewing Brandon Burlsworth in his last college football game.

The problem for the Arkansas Razorbacks was the man Quarterbacking the Wolverines was none other than Tom Brady, and the Wolverines beat Arkansas, 45-31.

In the 1999 NFL Draft, Brandon lasted all the way to the 3rd round where he was picked by the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts got a steal in Brandon Burlsworth and they knew it. When he went to Indianapolis to work out in a mini camp, they were convinced he was going to be a star.

But, sadly, it was not meant to be.

Brandon Burlsworth did everything correctly. He was never a distracted driver, but on his way home

to Harrison coming from a workout in Fayetteville, Brandon’s car was clipped by an 18 Wheeler and he was tragically killed.

Brandon was alone, so nobody really knows what happened. By all accounts, Burlsworth was always a good driver and was never distracted. He drove carefully with both hands in the proper 10 and 2 positions and he was always focused.

 

Buy the book for more details on this tragic accident.

 

I’m not really a fan of any NFL teams, but not only did the Burlsworth and Arkansas family have a huge loss, but so did the Indianapolis Colts.

 

Brandon Burlsworth was not the most physically gifted Offensive Linemen college football has ever seen. But, his technique and footwork were nearly flawless. A guy like Brandon was fun to watch.

From a chubby boy that was raised basically by a single mom and one of two older brothers, to a two year All SEC and a first team All American is incredible. The Brandon Burlsworth story is amazing.

Clear out your sinuses and buy the book.