DeKALB, IL – Sophomore defensive tackle Devonte O'Malley (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen) of the Northern Illinois University football team was named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy on Tuesday.
 
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
 
O'Malley has started every game this season at defensive tackle, racking up 22 tackles. He is second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The sophomore recorded a career-high five tackles at Kentucky on Sept. 24 with 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. O'Malley had a career-high two sacks in the Huskies' win at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 15.
 
In 28 career games, O'Malley has 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He led NIU in sacks in both 2020 and 2021.
 
One of six representatives from the Mid-American Conference on the 81-man list, O'Malley is joined by Bowling Green's Demetrius Hardamon, Buffalo's Shaun Dolac, Hassan Beydoun of Eastern Michigan, Kent State's Andrew Glass and Nick Rosi of Toledo.
 
In its 13^th year, the Burlsworth Trophy is named after Brandon Burlsworth, a former walk-on and All-American offensive lineman at Arkansas.
 
O'Malley and the Huskies are back in action at Huskie Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 2 to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game being broadcast on ESPNU. Tickets for all three remaining home games are on sale at NIUHuskies.com. Get a half-price ticket for any remaining game with the donation of a canned good on game day or in advance at the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the NIU Convocation Center.   
 
--NIU--