FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Burlsworth Trophy selection committee announced that Tennessee redshirt junior long snapper Matthew Salansky is one of 81 players nominated for the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy.

The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.

In his fourth year with the program and third as Tennessee’s starting long snapper, Salansky enrolled at Tennessee and joined the Vols as a walk-on in the fall of 2019. The Morristown native has played in 31 games, logging more than 300 snaps over the course of his collegiate career.

A model of consistency for the Tennessee special teams unit, Salansky has delivered on 82 snaps for the top-ranked Vols through the first eight weeks of the 2022 campaign—including 49 PATs, 18 punts and 15 field goals. His most notable snap came in the final seconds against No. 3 Alabama, thrusting the ball to holder Paxton Brooks before placekicker Chase McGrath converted a 40-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Crimson Tide, 52-49.

Prior to Tennessee, Salansky was a three-year starter at nearby Morristown West High School. He starred at linebacker for the Trojans while also seeing time at running back and long snapper, helping lead his squad to the Class 5A state quarterfinals in 2015 and 2016. As a senior in 2018, Salansky recorded 84 tackles, a sack and an interception.

The 81 Burlsworth Trophy nominees will be narrowed to a list of 10 semifinalists next week before three finalists are announced in two weeks. The award ceremony to honor the three finalists and announce the 2022 winner will be held on Dec. 5th at 7 p.m. CT at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.

For more information on the Burlsworth Trophy, visit burlsworthtrophy.com.

-UT Athletics