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OU offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu a Burlsworth Award finalist

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo5 hours agoBPrzybylo
Febechi Nwaiwu3
OU offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu. (Bryan Terry - Imagn Images)

The Burlsworth Trophy is always going to mean something to OU fans because of former quarterback Baker Mayfield.

And the Sooners are hoping to add another winner to that list. Offensive guard Febechi Nwaiwu has been named one of three finalists for the 16th Burlsworth Trophy, announced Tuesday. The award is given to the best college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Nwaiwu is joined on the list of finalists by North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker and Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe.

Funny enough, North Texas was where Nwaiwu got his start. He was there for three seasons, and yep, began his career as a walk-on.

Since arriving at OU, he has become one of the team’s most consistent players. That’s the word teammates and coaches have used to describe Nwaiwu all season.

He had to find his footing in 2024. He has become the anchor on the line this season, with OU now 8-2 and knocking on the door of the college football playoff. 

Nwaiwu has started all 10 games at right guard this season and is part of an offensive line that has paved the way for OU to average 130.7 rushing yards and 357.5 total yards per game and is tied for first nationally by converting all of its red zone opportunities into points (31 for 31). He has allowed only two pressures and no sacks or quarterback hits on 374 pass-blocking snaps and has recorded 20 knockdowns on rushing plays this season.

After initially redshirting his first season at North Texas, Nwaiwu started 12 of the team’s 14 games in 2022 en route to freshman All-America honors. In all, he has started in 40 of his 47 career games.

OU looks to finish

OU hosts Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday. It is the first home game for the Sooners in nearly a month. The Sooners will close by welcoming LSU to Norman next weekend.

Mayfield won the award in 2015 and 2016. Former wide receiver Drake Stoops was a finalist two seasons ago.

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