Another trait that set Brandon apart was his respectful devotion to doing whatever authority figures asked of him. He died in a car crash on april 28 1999 shortly after he was drafted by the nfls indianapolis colts. Burlsworth was a walk-on offensive lineman at the University of Arkansas who, throughout his career at Arkansas, went from being a red-shirt out-of-shape freshman to a player that the Indianapolis Colts would draft. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. In the book about Brandon's life, retired businessman Bud Walsh of Harrison is credited with advising Brandon's older brother Marty to contact Razorback Assistant Coach Harold Horton to hopefully become a walk-on. The more the "farmer" talked to Marty about faith and religion and making him doubt the more detailed it became. Mens cross-country places 11th at regional Christmas Market features student-owned businesses. "When Brandon showed up at the rookie camp, he was even better than I thought he'd be," said Mudd. The Vols finished the regular season by blasting Kentucky 59-21 and Vanderbilt 41-0. She smiles when she sees the many thousands of children and others who've benefited enormously from the charitable Brandon Burlsworth Foundation and from his once having lived a blessed and honorable life among us. Brandon burlsworth a second team all america guard who was recently drafted by the indianapolis colts was killed last night when his car collided with a tractor trailer rig near carrolton ark. But there was a film made about it and there were a lot of articles about it. He was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft to protect oddly enough former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning. Brandon Burlsworth is growning from an unwanted accident of a child, to an abnormally large teenager, to a high school football . "Through the years, we have stayed close. We're very appreciative of Mr. Irsay and the bond his organization has with us. My mother always has gotten a Colts Christmas card. We've kept a feeling of being a part of Brandon's team.". Marty Burlsworth remembers the day Brian Reindl came to Harrison to pitch his idea of making a movie about the life of Burlsworth's late brother, Brandon. In fact, Ed, who works for FedEx in Harrison and has three children, even named his oldest son after Brandon. Inspiring to watch his football and his story change others around him and his journey towards wholeness. As UTs defense tried to hold on, quarterback Tee Martin and UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe were devising a drive in which theyd have very little time left if they got the ball back at all. "I sent one of those shirts to the funeral home and Brandon was buried in it," said Barbara. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. He had absolutely no quit in him. We got the ball back. Rivers and Steichen worked together with the Chargers, while Turner gave Steichen his first opportunity in the NFL. "He stayed around the house and left for Fayetteville on Tuesday," Vickie says. 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. Since 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy has been handed out to the best player in college football who started his career as a walk-on. Sad to see the pain still inside him. Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an offensive lineman for the Arkansas Razorbacks Football Team from 1995 to 1998. . After that ran, we began getting calls from Los Angeles about doing a movie. Once his chance, though, Burlsworth seized his opportunity. 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. Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in a head-on automobile collision just 11 days after the draft." I struggled with the same things I think everybody does. The Harrison, Arkansas, native walked on and became a three-year starter, All-American and NFL Draft pick. 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 . We dont have to understand it -- BUT we do have the choice of how we react to it. He was already something special, but it would have been something else had he not gone through the injuries he did.. University announces student survey results, new Track construction nearly complete, ready to Whataburger celebrates beginning construction on Searcy Harding hosts Arkansas National History Day Students visit historic Little Rock Central Students plan to attend upcoming mission ASI continues distinguished lecture series with Harding to host annual womens conference, Breaking out: University introduces breakout chapels, Construction on Berryhill Park courts continues. Eleven days after being the 63rd pick in the draft, Burlsworth. When (Greater producer and co-screenwriter) Brian Reindl came to us, we instantly felt a comfort level with him and his desire to tell Brandons story. 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. Turns out, that conversation was all for naught thanks to Billy Ratliff. 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. (NWA Media). Midnight Madness kicks off basketball season, Social clubs prepare for Homecoming Parade, James Huff receives another research grant. 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. Its hard not to imagine what kind of player Ratliff would have been had he not been injured so often. We were involved from start to finish in a sort of advisory role. Brandon the officer told us had collided head on with a semi. by Clay Henry | August 27, 2016 at 1:00 a.m. Arkansas' Brandon Burlsworth tells a story to teammates before the beginning of practice at Thunder Field on Dec. 30, 1998 . Marty and Vickie Burlsworth said they thought Greater was a fantastic rendering of what was important to Brandon. Billy was great. Marty Burlsworth: Brandon had entered high school early, so he graduated at 17 years old and was still growing. Burlsworth was killed in a traffic accident last wednesday as he drove from working out at the university of arkansas in fayetteville to his home in harrison a city of about 11000. "We attended the First Assembly in Harrison and Brandon was always there, starting at about 10 years old. Casting Directors are now casting for the upcoming SAG feature film "Greater" filming in Arkansas. However, once Marty stopped listening to him it returned to less detail. 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. Freshmen bring people together with Bison El Puente celebrates National Hispanic Heritage University executes new check-in procedures for Harding students from Florida react to Harding students to participate in business ASI kicks off distinguished lecture series University centers Lectureship around Christ and Q&A with Lisa Williams, ambassador for University celebrates Williams inauguration, Songwriting contest ends in recording workshop. The film shows Brandon receiving a scholarship offer from Arkansas Tech University. He went after it without caution.". Tice, now the athletic director for Huntsville, said he's never donned another helmet. Burlsworth was killed in a traffic accident last Wednesday as he drove from working out at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to his home in Harrison, a city of about 11,000. At Arkansas, the former Harrison High School player became a three-year starter and finished as an All-Southeastern Conference pick and on the Associated Press All-America second team. MB: Brandon was revered pretty quickly for the obstacles that he overcame. 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. Tennessee is only one of a handful of SEC football states with legalized sports betting. UT took over at the Hogs 43-yard line with just 1:43 left. Both press conferences will be streamed live on Colts.com, the Colts mobile app, @Colts on Twitter and the Colts Facebook page. He was more assertive than most of the other linemen at the practices. 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. All rights reserved. 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. [2] Death Eleven days after being drafted, he was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas on his way back to his hometown of Harrison one night after a workout in Fayetteville. This is an inspirational film, and I believe its a film you will want to see over and over again. Burlsworth, 22, died 10 days after his selection on April 28, 1999, in a car crash in Arkansas. 1976 April 28, 1999) was killed in a car accident near Alpena, Arkansas, on . He went to mini-camp, but was killed a few days . Ratliff continued playing football for the love of the game. After his time at the University of Arkansas ended, Brandon Burlsworth seemed poised to realize his NFL dreams. HARRISON For one more Saturday, Brandon Burlsworth was with his Arkansas football teammates and coaches and surrounded by family and friends. The press conference will be streamed live. Fate intervened. We reviewed several different scripts over the years, and we also reviewed any revisions that were made of significance. If Billy Ratliff is still out here playing, whatever injury I have, it cant be that bad, Coleman said. There was no overlooking those two foes like the Vols might have done against Arkansas. "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. I think the movie speaks to people in many different ways, Reindl said. Now, you can't control who your mom and daddy is, but you can control how hard you work. History happened, he said. Mudd was among the club's personnel who knew Burlsworth the best. A week after the draft, others got a glimpse of the player who drew visible comparisons to TV's Drew Carey. On Friday, Aug. 26, the movie "GREATER" will be released in theaters. Brandon, Marty's younger brother by 16 years, was tragically killed in an auto accident on April 28, 1999 . You want to just tell the story as if no one had ever heard it before. It was odd that Arkansas coach Houston Nutt didnt just run the football instead of calling a bootleg that allowed Ratliff to make his historic play. . When his brother Marty sees how much he meant to the people of his hometown and how many have shown up for his funeral, he rebuffs The Farmer, deciding to celebrate Brandon's life and move on with his own. Brandon burlsworth accident report BURLSWORTH KILLED IN CRASH. He had fresh legs and blew up the play.. "As time goes on, you deal with the hurt. That 'what ifs' never really go away," said Marty. "We're life-long Colts fans, always will be. Brandons goal growing up was to help underprivileged kids, Aaron Burlsworth said. Tragically, that never happened. I asked Barbara about what her son's faith meant to him. Sure enough, it happened. Burlsworth was killed 15 miles from home on a road he had traveled for years when his car drifted into the on coming lane. He was the first pick in the third round, the 63rd overall selection. 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. Its very possible the two would have had many more epic battles in the NFL. It made them believe they could win a title and instilled fear of the possibility of coming up short. Burlsworth was killed in a car accident less than two weeks after he was drafted. I promise you that ball seemed like it was there for 5 or 6 seconds.. One "There are people in the organization we feel close to. I'm still asked by people in Harrison about the Colts, and I tell them about our close relationship to this day. Arkansas is impressed with the Colts, no doubt about that.". Ratliff and Burlsworth will always be linked by the Arkansas fumble. In this 1999 photo, the locker of Brandon Burlsworth is seen encased in glass in the locker room at the University of Arkansas. As the mind flashes back 15 years ago, the accident remains just as tragic. The life of a tremendous human being was ended. That is an incalculable loss. When the 1999 NFL draft rolled around, the Indianapolis Colts made the linemans dreams a reality and selected him with the 63rd-overall pick. Do it the Burls way: Have character. 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 . You sow a character, you reap a destiny. Q: What message do you want fans to take from this movie? Performance & security by Cloudflare. "GREATER" tells the story of Burlsworth, a former college walk-on, who would go on to earn All-America honors at the . 412 when he became involved in the crash with two tractor trailers officials said. His name was Brandon Burlsworth, and a new movie in theaters this weekend - Greater (PG) - tells the incredible story of the chubby kid who wasn't recruited by any big-name colleges out of high school but proceeded to walk on with the home-state Arkansas Razorbacks, earn a scholarship, and become an All-American offensive lineman. 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. [3] Brandon Burlsworth, Indianapolis Colts. After the Arkansas game, we knew that was our moment, former UT cornerback Dwayne Goodrich said. Even though the linemans life and career ended in tragedy, hes still managing to make an impact more than 20 years later. He was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He never got there, dying in. Brandon burlsworth dies on arkansas highway after head on collision with tractor trailer. "We got to know a lot of Colts personnel at training camp. Through the years, we have stayed close.". Brian Reindl is a real estate developer by trade, but a filmmaker by passion.