Bruins Captain LB Nominated For Prestigious Walk-On Award

The UCLA Bruins are seeing one of their former walk-on athletes blossom right before their very eyes. Redshirt junior captain linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been nominated for yet another award after another sensational defensive performance last week.

Nov 2, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs out of bounds against UCLA Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Another day, another accolade for Bruins captain linebacker Carson Schwesinger. The redshirt junior has been named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to college football's most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. It would be well-deserved for the Bruins' best defender.

Schwesinger was just named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after earning seven tackles and the first two interceptions of his storied collegiate career. He is also a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in college football.

This kid has been special since he joined the team in 2021 as just a walk-on player before earning a scholarship prior to the 2022 season. Somebody had to take the chance and believe in him and nobody was disappointed with what Schwesinger has brought this Bruins team.

He ranks second in the Big Ten in total tackles (92) and first in solo tackles (59). He is also atop the conference rankings in tackles per game (10.2) and solo tackles per game (6.6). There is no bigger ball hawk in the conference than Schwesinger and his killer instinct to sniff out the football and tackle.

Following the Bruins' Week 7 win over Rutgers to kickstart their three-game win streak, Schwesinger recorded 10-plus tackles for the fifth-straight game, the first time a Bruin has done it since NFL star Eric Kendricks in 2014.

Carson Schwesinger has been on another level 😤💪

The Bruins’ captain is the first UCLA player to tally 10+ tackles in five straight games since @erickendricks6 (2014).#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/PuX3kot0bs

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) October 24, 2024

The Moorpark, California native had to bet on himself and grind through his first year on the team, earning just 15 tackles in 10 games. He has improved every single year into one of the best linebackers in the country and one of the best stories for any Bruins walk-on.

To go from a walk-on to earning a scholarship to being the team's best defender and a captain is truly special stuff. Things that some athletes dream about doing, Schwesinger is living out that reality. He continues to put together impressively consistent performances, helping his team win games.

The Bruins will hit the road this week to battle a former Pac-12 opponent -- now fellow Big Ten opponent, the Washington Huskies (5-5), this Friday night. It gives Schwesinger another opportunity to make his case for multiple season awards and, more importantly, a fourth-straight win in hopes of becoming bowl-eligible.

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