Cody Schrader Delivers Powerful Speech After Winning Burlsworth Trophy

A full transcript of what Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader said after being named the nation's top former walk-on.

Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader won the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday night.

The award honors the nation's most outstanding former walk-on, as Schrader earned it over finalists, James Madison defensive tackle James Carpenter and Oklahoma wide receiver Drake Stoops, along with 70 other previous candidates.

The SEC rushing leader delivered a powerful speech at the ceremony in Bentonville, Ark., which is not too far from the University of Arkansas, where he rushed for over 200 yards a couple of weeks ago.

Here's a full transcript of the speech:

First off, I want to say thank you for safely allowing me back in the state of Arkansas. No but really I want to say thank you to the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation for allowing (James Madison finalist) James (Carpenter), (Oklahoma finalist) Drake (Stoops) and I to be a part of this. This is something that we're definitely going to remember for a long time and allowing our families to be a part of this as well is extremely special for us to talk about down the road. I also want to say thank you to Marty and Vickie (Burlsworth), you guys are some of the sweetest and kindest people that I've met. I know Brandon (Burlsworth) would be really proud of what you guys have done to continue his legacy with this foundation and everything you've done for the University and the state of Arkansas. For that, I want to give you guys a round of applause.

Next, I want to say thank you to everybody who supported me this entire journey: Steve, Lisa, Sheeko, my dad, mom, sisters and coach (Eli Drinkwitz). Without your guys' support and every day being in my corner and cheering me on I wouldn't be where I am today and I wouldn't have the opportunity to walk on and fulfill a childhood dream of mine. So I want to say thank you to all of you guys as well.

Finally, my journey from high school to Truman State Division II to the University of Missouri wasn't easy. It definitely had a lot of lonely nights. A lot of just the unknown of what was going to happen with my career. But the only thing I stayed true to was the work. The only thing that follows work is results and I truly believe that anything you want in this life you can achieve, it just takes dedication, discipline and you just have to love this game. I just know from meeting James and Drake that you guys truly love this game and embody what Brandon and this foundation mean. No matter the outcome tonight, we've already won just because nobody believed we'd be here. So I appreciate getting to know you guys.

My biggest thing that I hope to inspire in youth and kids who look at our stories, is the relentless consistency that it takes to be successful: never let nobody tell you no. I think Brandon was the epitome of that. He would never take no for an answer no matter the case was. Just watching the movie (Greater) and then getting to experience his family, you really got to know who he was as a person and what weight this trophy holds. This is something I'm eternally grateful for and I'm just really thankful for this event and all the support. M-I-Z.

Missouri's Cody Schrader Wins Burlsworth Trophy