Jimmy Morrissey verbally committed to Pitt as a walk-on on Jan. 30, 2016. He earned a scholarship 571 days later, picked up All-ACC honors in 2018, ’19 and ’20 and was voted by his peers as a two-time captain.
Morrissey told the Post-Gazette last month that how his time at Pitt played out was “probably the best scenario that could have possibly happened.” But even as he trains for the 2021 NFL draft, the center added one more note to his storied collegiate career.
On Monday, Morrissey was awarded the Burlsworth Trophy, which is presented annually to “the most outstanding college football player in America who began his career as a walk-on.” Morrissey beat out two other finalists, BYU wide receiver Dax Milne and Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan.
“It’s been a goal of mine ever since I was a freshman to win this award. ... It’s something I’ve worked for,” Morrissey said via Zoom on Monday. “With the chaotic senior year that we had and everything going on in the world, it’s been crazy. But to win this award and cap it all off with this is like the cherry on top.”
Morrissey is the first Burlsworth Trophy winner from Pitt and the second from the state of Pennsylvania. Penn State quarterback and Scranton native Matt McGloin won the award in 2011, one year after it was conceived.
In 2010, the Burlsworth Trophy was “created to honor the achievements and successes of the walk-on” in the memory of former Arkansas offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth. The Razorback walked on in 1994 and was later named a captain and All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts at 63rd overall in the 1999 NFL draft, but was killed in a car accident just 11 days after the draft.
Burlsworth was also named to the All-SEC Academic Honor Roll four times, and he became Arkansas’ first player to earn a master’s degree before playing his last game.
Inside and outside the game, Morrissey checked the Burlsworth Trophy’s boxes.
The Huntingdon Valley native was a three-time All-ACC Academic honoree, with the 2020 team yet to be released. Morrissey, a preseason Academic All-American candidate, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing before studying last season in Pitt’s graduate school of business.
For Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers, Morrissey was a four-year, 47-game starter. He was a first-team All-ACC honoree in 2019 and landed on the second team this past season. Morrissey didn’t give up a sack in 2019 and polished off his Pitt career on Dec. 10, leading Pitt’s rushing attack to a season-high 317 yards in its win over Georgia Tech.
Morrissey is now one of the top center prospects in the 2021 NFL draft. ESPN’s Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., have him ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, at his position. If that holds true into April, it would put Morrissey firmly in the Day 3 range.
Morrissey’s decision to enter the draft ended a collegiate career that few expected, including himself. The unranked prospect received zero Division I-A scholarship offers out of La Salle High School after emailing all 128 FBS programs.
The only FBS coach that expressed real interest was former Pitt offensive line coach John Peterson. Morrissey’s family paid for him to attend a Pitt prospect camp in June 2015, where he left a lasting impression on Peterson. Seven months later, Morrissey accepted a spot at Pitt as a walk-on, spurning partial scholarship interest from Dartmouth and a few other FCS programs.
Morrissey redshirted in 2016 and earned the starting job the following season.
From 2017 on, Morrissey set the tone for the Panthers. He pushed his fellow linemen to watch film on their own time. He defended his teammates, notably quarterback Kenny Pickett. He commanded attention in pregame speeches and spoke up postgame, win or lose. In more ways than one, he was the heartbeat of Pitt’s program.
Now, Morrissey will prepare for the NFL the same way he approached his start at Pitt.
“I’m happy that I was a walk-on. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world,” Morrissey said. “The journey that I’ve been on, I’ve loved it. It’s been tough. But it’s been extremely rewarding, and I love everything that I’ve learned along the way and how it shaped my character.
“It meant a lot to win this award. I’m happy I’ll have it with me for the rest of my life.”
John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9
First Published: January 4, 2021, 7:15 p.m.