Fayetteville, Ark.-----San Jose State University football co-captain and starting offensive left tackle David Quessenberry is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy.

            The award is given annually to the most outstanding Football Bowl Subdivision player that began his career as a non-scholarship walk-on. Fifty players were nominated for the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy.

            Quessenberry is a three-year starter for the Spartans, presently with a 9-2 record prior to the regular-season finale against Louisiana Tech on November 24. He is anchoring an offensive line for the ninth highest scoring team in San Jose State history. The 2012 Spartans have a chance to become just the fourth team at the University to score 400 points in a season.

            San Jose State has put its points on the scoreboard with a passing attack that is the most accurate in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Spartans, mainly with quarterback David Fales, has completed 71.6 percent of their passes for 3,563 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns.

            The 295-pound Quessenberry first joined in 2008 from La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad, Calif., as a 240-pound tight end/offensive line prospect. After redshirting in 2008 and a 2009 season in which he played primarily as a punt protector, he earned the starting left tackle job and was placed on scholarship prior to the 2010 season opener against defending national champion Alabama.

2012 Burlsworth Award Semifinalists

Andrew Abbott, S, SR, UCLA

Jared Abbrederis, WR, JR, Wisconsin

Ezekiel Ansah, DL, SR, Brigham Young

B.J. Finney, C, SO, Kansas State

Spencer Long, OG, JR, Nebraska

Jordan Kovacs, S, SR, Michigan

Alex Kupper, OT, SR, Louisville

Matt McGloin, QB, SR, Penn State

David Quesssenberry, OT, SR, San Jose State

Andrew Seumalo, DT, SR, Oregon State           

Fans will be allowed to vote for their favorite player via the AT&T Fan Vote beginning today, Nov. 20 at 2:30 PM CST. Voting can be accessed at www.burlsworthtrophy.com and will begin with the top 10 semi-finalists and continue as the selection committee announces the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 27. Fans are limited to one vote per day, and the voting will conclude on Nov. 26 at 12:00 a.m. CST. Finalists will be honored and the winner of the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy announced Dec. 3 at a banquet in Springdale, Ark., sponsored by the Springdale Rotary Club.

The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth. Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon walked on to the Razorback team in 1994, worked his way to being a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. 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. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children that have limited opportunities.

The Fan Vote counts as 5 percent during each round of voting, and it is combined with the results from the Selection Committee. Fans can cast their vote for the nation's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on once per day. Fan Vote totals are cleared after each round.        

For more information about the Burlsworth Trophy, visit www.burlsworthtrophy.com.