Completed Event: Football at Temple on September 13, 2025 , Win , 42, to, 3
Final
Football
42
at Temple
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Brendall Vargas/University of Oklahoma
Nwaiwu Named Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
November 12, 2025 | Football
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma redshirt senior offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.
Nwaiwu transferred to Oklahoma in January 2024 after spending his first three collegiate years at the University of North Texas, where he initially walked on to the football team. Since joining the Sooners, he has become Oklahoma's most consistent offensive lineman and is OU's only offensive player to start every game over the last two seasons.
The Coppell, Texas, product has started all nine games at right guard this season and is part of an offensive line that has paved the way for OU to average 137.0 rushing yards and 373.7 total yards per game and is tied for first nationally by converting all of its red zone opportunities into points (28 for 28). He started all 13 games at right guard last season and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in a Nov. 23 win over No. 7 Alabama as the Sooners rushed for 257 yards.
Nwaiwu redshirted his first season at North Texas, then 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.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 18. The winner will be announced Dec. 8.
Former Sooner Baker Mayfield won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2016 and '17.
No. 11/10 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2 SEC) travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 4/4 Alabama (8-1, 6-0 SEC) on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
Nwaiwu transferred to Oklahoma in January 2024 after spending his first three collegiate years at the University of North Texas, where he initially walked on to the football team. Since joining the Sooners, he has become Oklahoma's most consistent offensive lineman and is OU's only offensive player to start every game over the last two seasons.
The Coppell, Texas, product has started all nine games at right guard this season and is part of an offensive line that has paved the way for OU to average 137.0 rushing yards and 373.7 total yards per game and is tied for first nationally by converting all of its red zone opportunities into points (28 for 28). He started all 13 games at right guard last season and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in a Nov. 23 win over No. 7 Alabama as the Sooners rushed for 257 yards.
Nwaiwu redshirted his first season at North Texas, then 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.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 18. The winner will be announced Dec. 8.
Former Sooner Baker Mayfield won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2016 and '17.
No. 11/10 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2 SEC) travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 4/4 Alabama (8-1, 6-0 SEC) on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
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