FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Hawai'i senior defensive lineman Andrew Choi was among a group of 73 football players who were nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
 
The Honolulu, O'ahu native joined the Rainbow Warriors in 2018 as a walk-on linebacker out of Kaiser High School before switching to the defensive line. He was awarded a scholarship during the 2022 season in which he started seven of the final eight games and finished second in tackles among defensive linemen.
 
The sixth-year super senior has started every game in 2023 and is the team leader in tackles among defensive linemen. His older brother Zeno Choi also walked-on the UH program and eventually earned a scholarship and received honorable mention all-conference honors as a senior.
 
Each nominee of the Burlsworth Trophy must have begun his first season of participation with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department. In its 14^th year, the Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman.
 
The three finalists along with the announcement of the 2023 winner will take place at the Burlsworth Trophy award ceremony on December 4, at 7:00 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.