FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (September 25, 2024) – Washington State linebacker Kyle Thornton was named a Burlsworth Trophy Co-Walk-On of the Week, the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation announced Wednesday.
 
To be eligible for the Burlsworth Trophy recognition, a player must have started his FBS (DI) college football career as a walk-on. Thornton shares the weekly award with wideout Sean Atkins from South Florida.
 
Thornton, redshirt-senior and former walk-on from Upland, Calif., made a team-high 10 tackles with one for loss and recorded his first career interception in the double-overtime win over San Jose State last Friday night. Thornton's interception came during WSU's 14-point fourth-quarter comeback. This season, Thornton leads the team with 23 tackles and has helped the Cougars to a 4-0 start for the second straight season.
 
Last season, Thornton started all 12 games and led the team with 87 tackles, seventh-most in the Pac-12 Conference. Thornton tallied 4.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, six quarterback hurries, was a Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll selection and a Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist, the award given to the nation's best former walk-on.
 
Each week during the regular season, the Burlsworth Trophy will select a Walk-On of the Week. For the annual Burlsworth Trophy award, the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation will announce the 2024 finalists on November 19. Nominees for the annual award are nominated by their respective universities. The winner will be announced at the Burlsworth Trophy Award Show on December 9 at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.