Instead, the accident happened four days later, tearing holes in the hearts of everyone who knew Brandon. Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2016. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. Id never heard it before. His life and career, however, ended in tragedy rather than triumph. One The team broke into laughter. All rights reserved. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. 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.". He is a great story about a guy who overcame huge obstacles through hard work, determination and perseverance. Marty and Vickie Burlsworth said they thought Greater was a fantastic rendering of what was important to Brandon. Marty Burlsworth: Brandon had entered high school early, so he graduated at 17 years old and was still growing. The youth center in Harrison, Arkansas . Secure the best seats & best benefits for next season, and be there live for exciting matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and more of the NFL's best opponents. Fulmer was a former offensive lineman who loved running the football. Brandon was tragically killed in a car accident, crushing all who . Burlsworth first caught the eye of Mudd at the Senior Bowl, just prior to the Combine. But that same night, April 28, Mudd received a phone call from a newspaper reporter, asking him, "Have you heard about Brandon Burlsworth?" Burlsworth had been killed in a car accident. Anyone within earshot of Ratliff just moments before heard him call his shot. Departments offer new classes across campus, Student Association hosts first birthday bash. Dave Hooker started covering Tennessee in 1998. MB: We want them to know that bad things can and will happen. Eleven days after being drafted burlsworth was killed in a car accident near alpena arkansas on april 28 1999 on his way back to his hometown of harrison after a workout in fayetteville. Billy Ratliff had every opportunity to give up during that game because that kid was giving him the business, the entire game.. Thats where things were headed as Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner lined up under center on second down with just 1:47 left on the clock. The comment about the carving is true, but the imagery of the piece is a little deeper. "Brandon Burlsworth was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. Instead, the dreams of a family and the promise of an NFL career were cut short tragically when Burlsworth was killed 15 years ago today in a car accident as he headed home to Harrison, Arkansas. 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. Tragically, that never happened. brandon burlsworth foundation to honor stephens inc. kevin scanlon with legends award Brandon Burlsworth, Indianapolis Colts. To this day, I still think if he would have fulfilled (his career), wed be talking All-Pro and Hall of Fame Brandon Burlsworth right now., NEXT: David Cutcliffe throws Vols a curveball just before National Championship Game. "If God ever made the perfect person, it was that guy," said then teammate Sacha Lancaster to Sport Illustrated. Billy Ratliff was right next to me, Wilson said. John E. Hoover can be . That has to be the bittersweet part for Ratliff. Mom and I picked him up at the airport when he came home. 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. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks Football Team from 1995 to 1998. . "He stayed around the house and left for Fayetteville on Tuesday," Vickie says. It was a tough situation. During the summer after his sophomore year, he had a big growth spurt, enough where he was able to get playing time on the varsity. The accident occurred near Alpena, Arkansas, while returning to his old neighborhood. . Gainey Coach Ford Wayne Duvall Pastor Rick Mark Dobies Coach Nutt Grant Cook Grant Garrett Josh Emerson Nathan Ward Ethan Waller Young Brandon Todd Julian He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1997 and 1998; he was also named a first-team All-American during the 1998 campaign. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. By what name was Greater (2016) officially released in India in English? There is some footage of the real Brandon after the last credits. It was a legendary drive for sure. That wouldnt be the case. 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. Safety Fred White didnt see it that way. The football fraternity had great expectations from the talented young man but fate had other plans and he was killed in an accident. "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.". Q: I remember hearing how as a high school sophomore that Brandon didnt look anything like a future SEC player. Personal Life & Death. He was a gentle giant with an instinct to win. **CLICK HERE FOR FOOTAGE OF BRANDON BURLSWORTH IN 1999 ROOKIE CAMP**. "Brandon was such a humble person who cared about and respected others," she continued. All rights reserved. Its very possible the two would have had many more epic battles in the NFL. The foundation, established in 1999, has several programs that serve children in Arkansas and around the country. All of the sudden I looked down and I see the ball on the ground, Ratliff said. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. Accordingly, I was thrilled to get him.". The coach said he managed to get back to his feet, still surrounded by the team. Coleman recalled seeing Ratliff, who was over 300 pounds, dunk a basketball with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Q: How important for you was it that this movie get made? Two months after the accident, Harrison football coach Tommy Tice told Sports Illustrated, "You had to be careful what you told Brandon. Brandon believed whatever his coach, his mother and his preacher told him was right. They were winning the whole game, really. He whipped my butt that whole game, Ratliff said. The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. Yet Ford agreed to let Brandon show up as a "preferred walk-on.". Oh well, it was a great run. He continued to grow and was a good 6-foot-2, 260 pounds in his senior season. There were times when he was almost late to games because he would never turn a kid down for an autograph or anything.. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. Foreign Language Department brings back after-school Harding employees bring families to swim Searcy Police and Public Safety investigate Reframing chapel: administration introduces changes, Student Association celebrates Earth Week. "I thought it would soften the blow because there was going to be a ceremony on opening day where our family would get a framed jersey," said Marty. "Brandon hadn't been around the NFL so as a close family, we were going to live it with him. As recorded on the Colts official website, Burlsworth was driving home to Harrison, Arkansas in April 1999; he wanted to head home, have dinner with his mother, Barbara, and attend a Wednesday night church service. The lineman, however, would never arrive. We got the ball back. 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. Brandon burlsworth car accident details. 412 when he became involved in the crash with two tractor trailers officials said. His story is the subject of movie that debuts Friday calledGreater.. 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. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. Although Brandon became a stickler for staying focused and doing things the right way, he also was a typically sloppy teenager until the 10th grade when Barbara told him if he was serious about going to college, "he'd better get his act together." However, once Marty stopped listening to him it returned to less detail. In the world of sports, there are plenty of iconic underdog stories. Rivers and Steichen worked together with the Chargers, while Turner gave Steichen his first opportunity in the NFL. It was tough. Former Arkansas football player and Indianapolis Colts draft pick Brandon Burlsworth died Wednesday in a car crash while travelling to his home, state police said. Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Just days after the draft, tragedy struck. I know his teammates respected him for the work he put in and his incredible dedication. Burlsworth, who began his college career as a pudgy walk-on and became a standout offensive lineman for the Razorbacks, was killed in a traffic accident April 28 while driving from the campus to his family's home. Brandon Burlsworth rose from a walk-on to a legitimate player at Arkansas From @RazorbackFB walk-on to All-American, Brandon Burlsworth's story makes him a Razorback to remember. Wed, 09/08/2021 - 15:05. Billy was great. He was the first pick in the third round, the 63rd overall selection. Among UT fans, his name is synonymous with the Arkansas fumble. "I remember he was the first college lineman I looked at on video that year," said Howard Mudd, then the Colts' line coach and one of the game's best ever. Arkansas needed 12 yards for the first down, but that wasnt even necessary. "The common . As a part of the program, the Colts will hire a Dungy Fellow for the offense and the defense. This is the life story of Brandon Burlsworth who is probably best known as a former offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1995 - 1999 (which is also the same time I went to the University of Arkansas). Said Fulmer, Anybody that loves football would love that. Every national championship team that ever played college football has to have a little luck sometime. Offensive lineman brandon burlsworth went from walk on to all american during his career at arkansas before dying in a car crash just after the 1999 nfl draft. Eyes of a Champion, for example, helps provide free vision exams and glasses to low to moderate income, uninsured children. Burls Kids, which operates in both Arkansas and Indianapolis, brings children to football games and provides them with an unforgettable experience. Instead, he did set goals and worked hard to achieve them.". If it does not offend you, then you should enjoy it. The foundation also runs football camps and presents several awards and scholarships. I promise you that ball seemed like it was there for 5 or 6 seconds.. "He loved the coaching staff and grew close to Coach Mudd immediately," said Marty. "Brandon felt very good about getting on the field and beginning the next step of his career. He knew he could be going against Bruce Smith on opening day. He was already getting ready for that challenge.". While he received some offers from smaller schools, Burlsworth wanted to go to the University of Arkansas and play for the Razorbacks. He inspires people. MB: Shortly after the accident, we got a call from a national magazine. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round of the 1999 NFL draft, but sadly, after eleven days, he was involved in a road accident. . Your IP: He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. A&P Commission approves funding for robotics Campus Life introduces Cotton Candy Friday. Ratliff replaced fellow defensive lineman Jeff Coleman, who was suffering from cramps on the sideline when Ratliffe made history. Fate intervened. It was an interesting set of play calls for Cutcliffe, who is widely considered a quarterback and passing game guru. Inspiring to watch his football and his story change others around him and his journey towards wholeness. The fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. 22, who died Wednesday in an automobile accident. HEATHER NICHOLS, Everton, Ark. Turns out, that conversation was all for naught thanks to Billy Ratliff. (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.
