He is a great story about a guy who overcame huge obstacles through hard work, determination and perseverance. His life and career, however, ended in tragedy rather than triumph. Its just amazing to see the impact on these kids lives and the smiles on their faces by introducing them to things that we take for granted.. HARRISON For one more Saturday, Brandon Burlsworth was with his Arkansas football teammates and coaches and surrounded by family and friends. After working 11 years on his Brandon Burlsworth biopic Greater, Reindl is within days of seeing his dream project open on 400 to 450 screens across the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest next week.. Burlsworth was an All-American football player for the University of Arkansas, who died tragically in an automobile . Im not sure what coach Nutt was thinking about, Ratliff said. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. After college he became a third-round pick of the Colts. It was the offenses turn after Ratliff proved prophetic. That says it all. Coleman had seen the suffering Ratliff had been through. Tice also told of a time when he'd become agitated with another lineman during practice and told the team to watch. During his UT career, Ratliff suffered a severe neck injury, two torn knee ligaments and serious shin splints. . He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Eleven days after being the 63rd pick in the draft, Burlsworth. As of the 2020 census the population stood at 128. A UT win would mean the Vols national title hopes would stay alive. The magazine did an extensive eight-page piece on him. Although he never played a down in the NFL, he had impressed Mudd enough during mini-camp that. "I still believe he'd have had become one of the better guards in the NFL," said Mudd. This is a movie not just for football fans but for everyone. Brandon always had a huge heart for kids. His foundation serves about 2,400 children annually through an Eyeglass program in conjunction with Walmart Optical (a long-visioned Brandon famously would hoard his per diem on football trips to buy Walmart stock). Burlsworth died in a car accident on April 28, 1999, and his story of faith and conviction has been gaining recognition in recent years due to various programs and a new biopic called "Greater.". "He listened, then just did it," said Tice. . | GREATER Movie LOS ANGELES (Christian Examiner) - GREATER, a new film about the inspiring story of Christian football player Brandon Burlsworth, who shot from walk-on at the University of Arkansas to a NFL draftee, will hit theaters this summer. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. Its hard not to imagine what might have been had Burlsworth not passed away when he was 22. His truck collided with an approaching 18-wheeler causing him to veer into his lane then he crashed with another tractor-trailer head-on. "I just wished I'd had the opportunity to have been part of his development. I never lost my faith and that first night, after everyone had gone home, I grabbed my wife and my moms hand and we prayed. (NWA Media). The Vols finished the regular season by blasting Kentucky 59-21 and Vanderbilt 41-0. Organizations and businesses prepare for Valentines Gov. https://t.co/UV3TEAGddV, Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) August 29, 2019, @espn Amazing photo and article. "He's in heaven now. Ratliffs explosive push into the backfield caused Burlsworth to step on Stoerners foot. Today, The University of Arkansas has created an endowment in Brandon's name. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Brandon burlsworth was the former all american offensive lineman for the arkansas razorbacks. We were involved from start to finish in a sort of advisory role. Q: I remember hearing how as a high school sophomore that Brandon didnt look anything like a future SEC player. Brandon Burlsworth death scene What was Brandon Burlsworth's death scene like? He declined both, insisting instead on joining the Razorbacks as a walk-on. Certainly, football was immensely important to Brandon, but it was his character and the relationship he had with God that defined who Brandon Burlsworth really was. Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas He said his familys personal contribution to Brandons legacy was the Burlworth Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged kids enjoy Arkansas Razorback and Indianapolis Colts games. But there was a film made about it and there were a lot of articles about it. He had fresh legs and blew up the play., After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment.. Every place starts with a cadence and ends with a whistle. Burlsworth was selected in the 3rd round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts but he was killed eleven days later in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas on April 28, 1999. Sports betting in Tennessee officially launched on November 1, 2020, and many of the largest sportsbooks are live and operating in the volunteer state. The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts on Sunday remembered Brandon Burlsworth, the team's third-round draft pick who died in a traffic crash before he could take his place in their offensive line. (Zac Budman/ESPN), The Burlsworth Award trophy (Zac Budman/ESPN), Ruettiger, the famed former Notre Dame football walk-on], ESPN Producer Michelle Rosenhouse Makes the Most of Memorable Moments, Journalism Showcase: SC Featured Highlights Cheyney States Remarkable 1982 Womens Basketball Team, Inside ESPN Marketings XFL Spot Bring It In, Journalism Showcase: SportsCenter Reporter Dives Into Growth of Girls Youth Flag Football. He was on his heels and I was like, Im not going to stop pushing.'. The story of a small town walk-on freshman named Brandon Burlsworth transforming into a first team All-American has been inspiring to football fans of all ages, but there is much more to his legacy than most people know. He had worked so hard and everything was in line to make his dreams come true. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. In his junior year, he split time with a senior on the offensive line for half the season and then became the full-time starter. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth (September 20, 1976 - April 28, 1999) was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. A mother losing a child at that young age, it was tough. We had never had a problem with anybody in the SEC but Florida. We certainly didnt write the script, but we felt our opinions were always welcome. He walked on to the University of Arkansas to become the first All-American from that program in a decade. Brandon sure left an indelible impression on me.". Cover photo of Clint Stoerners fumble courtesy of University of Tennessee Athletics. During the Razorbacks football history, plenty of great players have hit the gridiron. Candidates compete for Searcy mayor as Volleyball finishes record-breaking season at NCAA Thundering Herd welcomes high school guest Megias leads womens cross country team Basketball teams start seasons with high Community organization holds sixth annual Thankfulness Students take advantage of nearby concerts. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football.The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football.The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. The 22-year-old Burlsworth, who had been drafted by the Colts 11 days earlier in the wake of gaining first-group All-America respects as a fifth-year senior, was involved with a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer around 15 miles outside Harrison and was killed. That was a caused fumble. The press conference will be streamed live. What else could I do? "We were in need of finding a guard to shore up the line. We were impressed with the "guy with the horned-rimmed glasses that looked like Drew Carey." "No problem, I'm used to it," quipped Burlsworth, who popped the lens of his eyeglasses out and smiled away. The lineman had returned from the Colts' weekend minicamp. Cast [ edit] Its no surprise that Wilson, who was on the sideline with a torn groin, was leading the charge to get the ball back late in the game. Recently, I did a Q&A with his older brother Marty, who was instrumental in Brandons life. In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. Harding University in Florence students get Sladers Alaskan Dumpling Co. hosts birthday Students attend annual National Prayer Breakfast. Burlsworth first caught the eye of Mudd at the Senior Bowl, just prior to the Combine. Ratliff and Coleman were suite mates, so they knew each other well off the field. "It would have been great to see Brandon play, but it wasn't God's plan. That wasn't the way it's supposed to be, and that's what you accept.". The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. Billy was great. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. At halftime of the team's season-opener against Buffalo, Colts owners Jim and Meg Irsay presented Burlsworth's family and Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles with checks for $5,000 each. "I remember handing the helmet back to the other player, then shouting: "Well, by gosh, that will be the last time I teach you that lesson!" When Zac Budman was assigned to produce a feature for College GameDay Built by The Home Depot on the late Brandon Burlsworth, he did his research and learned the amazing and tragic story of the former Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman. Brandon Burlsworth excelled in high school football, making All-Conference and All-State. See production, box office & company info, Well-done and inspiring faith-based movie, Mike & Mike: Episode dated 23 August 2016. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Brandon Burlsworth (as Chris Severio) Michael Parks Leo Burlsworth Nick Searcy The Farmer Peter Gray Lewis Coach Tice (as Peter Lewis) Fredric Lehne Coach Bender Texas Battle Anthony Lucas M.C. As a part of the program, the Colts will hire a Dungy Fellow for the offense and the defense. An Arkansas loss would end the Vols dreams for a title but keep hope alive for the Razorbacks, who were surprisingly also in the national title hunt. He didnt do it on his own, White said of Stoerners fumble. Former Arkansas football player and Indianapolis Colts third-round draft pick Brandon Burlsworth died Wednesday in a car crash near Carrolton, Ark., while travelling to his home, state police said . While Ratliffs NFL future was never a realistic option because of his myriad injuries, Burlsworth had an incredibly bright future ahead of him. The book, Eyes of a Champion, the Brandon Burlsworth Story, was delivered in 2001. I really felt like that game built character in our team because for the first time, we felt the feeling of defeat and that was a feeling we didnt want to have anymore.. Its namesake was an Arkansas offensive lineman from 1995 to 1998. "Brandon Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. This is incredible. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. Mock Draft Monday, our weekly roundup of experts' predictions for who the Colts will take in the NFL Draft, is back a week after the Colts named Shane Steichen head coach. Please enjoy the peak of my journalistic career. Brian Reindl, writer and producer of "Greater," said he loved the opportunity to tell such an incredible story in his first-ever production. Facebook gives people the power. Reindl went on to say that the 11 years spent making the movie were not about personal glory, but about telling a great story of faith and trust and how to apply them in everyday life. Weve got to throw it. I said No, were going to run it every down and we ran the football right down their throat.. Yet Ratliff kept fighting through his injuries to help his teammates. Even though the linemans life and career ended in tragedy, hes still managing to make an impact more than 20 years later. Philip Straub said the call came in at 4:17 p.m. that there was a crash involving a car and a tractor-trailer on U.S. 412 near Carrolton. The NFL Combine begins next week in Indianapolis and will begin to bring more clarity to how teams around the league rate this year's group of draft-eligible quarterbacks. Marty and Vickie Burlsworth said they thought Greater was a fantastic rendering of what was important to Brandon. The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football. 172.104.178.68 We got the ball back. Q: When did you realize Brandons story was going to be something that could resonate with people far beyond just Razorback fans? There was no overlooking those two foes like the Vols might have done against Arkansas. It was an interesting set of play calls for Cutcliffe, who is widely considered a quarterback and passing game guru. One of the most unusual aspects of the Arkansas fumble is that Ratliff shouldnt have been in the game at all. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. At the combine, Burlsworth topped all linemen with a 4.88 40-yard dash. He bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times, weighed 308 pounds and measured a slight notch below 6-4. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. In Anticipation Of UFC 285 On ESPN+ PPV Saturday, Four Experts Weighed In, ESPNs Renewal Of Three-Year Formula 1 Deal Is Off To A Roaring Start, Starting Five: NBA Today and NBA Countdowns Malika Andrews. From @RazorbackFB walk-on to All-American, Brandon Burlsworth's story makes him a Razorback to remember. "He'd be completely blown away by all this attention focused on him. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. He just never sought the limelight. He went after it without caution.". Coleman recalled seeing Ratliff, who was over 300 pounds, dunk a basketball with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. UT took over at the Hogs 43-yard line with just 1:43 left. Playing on the offensive line is not a "glamour" position, but he was still one of the most popular players on the team. The family picked Brandon up at the airport after the rookie camp. He was sore from the work, but expressed comfort with his teammates and the size of Indianapolis. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Mock Draft Monday, our weekly roundup of experts' predictions for who the Colts will take in the NFL Draft, is back with the NFL Combine getting underway in Indianapolis this week. I dont want to tell them what to walk away with I want to inspire them through this story.. '"I told him how much it would mean to them to receive that message from him.". Brandon, Marty's younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999 . Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion. Less than two weeks after he was chosen in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, Brandon was driving home to go to church with his mother. "We got to know a lot of Colts personnel at training camp. Through the years, we have stayed close.". Thats the way I went about it.. Billy Ratliff had every opportunity to give up during that game because that kid was giving him the business, the entire game.. His brother, Marty, and their mother, Barbara, met him at the airport in Springfield. After Brandon was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, the caring couple asked Barbara if they might give Brandon some new shirts and a set of luggage for his trip. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on April 28, 1999, on . Brandon was elected to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the UA Letterman's Association Hall of Honor in 2004. About Saturday Down South | Ethics and Editorial Standards | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Other Conferences: Big Ten | ACC | Pac-12, "Billy Ratliff was right next to me. Brandon Burlsworth died from a car accident just eleven days after being drafted. All rights reserved. Q: Brandons life seemed to have incredible highs and lows. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. Surely, UT head coach Phillip Fulmer called the shots given his background. "He spent (Tuesday) night with Joe Dean Davenport." (Joe Dean later played for the Colts.) Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. #OvercomingTheOddsParalympian Scout Bassett embraces her story of scars, survival ESPN https://t.co/HHMSCULYIU, Lillian Jackson (@diamondlil1016) August 29, 2019, Friends, I spent the day with Arsenals Gunnersaurus Rex. Marty Burlsworth: Brandon had entered high school early, so he graduated at 17 years old and was still growing. For fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Burlsworth has been a household name for years. He was able to focus and achieve his primary goals that included earning a master's degree, making All-American and being drafted by an NFL team. BURLSWORTH, 22, a third-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts on April 17, was driving on U.S. 412 when he became involved in . Tragically, that never happened. It was meant to be.. Though Burlsworths story is not new, Budman felt that he should approach the story, with reporter Tom Rinaldi, as if every viewer was learning about it for the first time. Honors College announces new faculty fellow. check will go to Burlsworth's former high school for its scholarship fund and the other was presented to Arkansas, his alma mater. Literally. Said Martin, It was really good for us as a team to win in the fashion we won. Brandon's Arkansas coach Houston Nutt told Sports Illustrated, "He always did everything exactly right, and I've never known anyone to work as hard.". (Zac Budman/ESPN), Marty Burlsworth, brother of the late Brandon Burlsworth, is interviewed. There is some footage of the real Brandon after the last credits. Billy was great. She agreed, and the night before Brandon's fatal accident, he sat with his mother at the dinner table to send the Roths a thank-you note. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. Family members have attended one home game annually to this day. Their affinity for the franchise has been a constant. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. LSU's 3 permanent rivals for 9-game SEC schedule have been set, per report, Quinten Dormady, former Tennessee QB, under playbook investigation in XFL, Alabama basketball adds commitment from 4-star forward, Texas A&M punctuates impressive SEC season with upset of No. 20 college football teams we aren't sold on in 2023, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Mizzou shocks Tennessee, Alabama downs Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Alabama stays unbeaten in SEC play, Tennessee outlasts Auburn and more, SEC Basketball Power Rankings: A new top team emerges, Alabama loses in blowout fashion, Mizzou lights it up again. "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . Coach Tice: You know, football's a rough game; it's unpredictable. He said Ford wasn't enthused and even said Brandon would never earn a scholarship because he wasn't the type of player they were looking for. On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. Having any girlfriend was something relatively new for Brandon since his focus had been solely on his family, faith, friends, football and earning his master's degree. Powered by ThinkWeb, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION'S STUDENT MEDIA NETWORK AT HARDING UNIVERSITY, Faith, Trust and Character: The Life and Legacy of Brandon Burlsworth, Three players lead softball team to terrific start, Track construction nearly complete, ready to host, 22 teams compete in annual pickle ball tournament, Womens and mens tennis teams push through season, Bison baseball kicks off season with five straight wins, Harding softball begins season in Louisiana, Ambassador discusses efforts against human trafficking. I knew nothing of Brandons story, said Budman. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. You can say that if you werent a part of it and you didnt see what I saw. . Burlsworth died in a car accident on April 28, 1999, and his story of faith and conviction has been gaining recognition in recent years due to various programs and a new biopic called Greater.. That Burlsworth was in the accident was completely like the unselfish person who established a cult following while a Razorback. Steichen called plays for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. The youth center in Harrison, Arkansas . Brandon said, 'Yes, sir.' Hereof, what year did Brandon Burlsworth die? He went to Harrison High School and graduated from there.

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