FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Fresno State senior linebacker Malachi Langley has been announced as a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, the award that is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his first season of participation with an FBS football program without financial aid of any kind from the University's athletic department.
He is one of 78 players nominated from the FBS, and one of eight from the Mountain West.
Langley joined the Bulldog football program as a walk-on in 2019, and has since earned a scholarship and worked his way into the program's record books.
A native of Los Angeles, Langley has gone from walk-on to starting linebacker over the years. Through nine games this season, he is second on the team with 56 tackles. He adds 4.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
In his last four games, he has totaled 38 tackles including a career-best 13 against Nevada on Oct. 18. With that 13-tackle performance, Langley broke into the program's Top 10 for career tackles. Since then, he has moved into sixth all-time with 299 in his career and entering this week's game.
Langley was a 2022 Mountain West honorable mention selection. He has started in 33 consecutive games, dating back to 2022. The sixth-year Bulldog has played in a team-leading 59 career games with 44 starts to his name. He has also earned his sociology degree from Fresno State and is working towards his master's in curriculum and instruction.
With no Division I scholarship offers out of high school, Langley earned his scholarship at Fresno State in the Spring of 2021, after two seasons (10 games) with the Bulldogs.
"The walk-on athlete is an integral part of college football, it's in the very fabric of the game," said Marty Burlsworth,President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. "All of these nominees have embraced this opportunity and made the very most of it. It's certainly not an easy path, but through hard work and determination, they have made their dreams come true."
For the full list of nominees and more information on the award or organization, visit the official website.