FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Old Dominion University quarterback Blake LaRussa was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy given to the top player in FBS who started his career as a walk-on, the Springdale (AR) Rotary Club announced on Tuesday.



LaRussa has completed 180-of-276 passes for 2,274 yards and 14 touchdowns passes. He is eighth in FBS in passing yards.

A native of Virginia Beach, LaRussa passed for a career-best 495-yards and four touchdowns in the win over Virginia Tech. The 495-yards are the fifth most by an FBS quarterback this season, and the second most ever allowed by a Tech defense. LaRussa earned National and Conference USA Player of the Week honors for the performance.

LaRussa has four, 300-yard passing games on the season, and has a touchdown pass in seven-straight games.

The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.