Photo by: Parker Waters
Football’s Sam Howard Named As Nominee for Burlsworth Trophy
Nov 4, 2025 | Football, General
Fayetteville, AR  – The Tulane football team's Sam Howard was recently named as a candidate for the Burlsworth Trophy.
Howard, a senior linebacker and former walk-on at Austin Peay, is in his second year starting at Tulane. Despite missing two games with injury this season, he is placed fifth on the team in tackles with 31 tackles and third in tackles for loss (3.5). He also has totaled a sack and a forced fumble. Howard tied a school record with five fumble recoveries as a junior.
The nominated group includes 79 players from the FBS level.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performances on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation.
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The program ranks fifth in turnovers gain (11) and sixth in the league this season in interceptions (6). Tulane is third in the conference in sacks allowed (7). Patrick Durkin is the American's leader in both field goals a game (1.75) and field goal percentage (93.3). Jake Retzlaff is placed fourth league in rushing touchdowns (9) and is 12th in rushing yards (513). He is also third in passing yards per completion (12.48). Javion White is second in the conference and is placed 15th nationally in interceptions (3).
The Tulane football team (6-2, 3-1 American) has started the 2025 season with six wins in the first eight games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The program leads the country with 17 wins road wins since the start of the 2022 season.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 38-12 record over the last four seasons. The team's 38 wins is the eighth-most nationally.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 38-11, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returned to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next the Tulane football team plays another prime time game on ESPN and visits Memphis to take on the No. 22 (AP)/ No. 23 (Coaches) ranked Tigers at 8 p.m. at Liberty Stadium.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the upcoming volleyball, men's and women's basketball seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Â
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
                                                     - TulaneGreenWave -
Howard, a senior linebacker and former walk-on at Austin Peay, is in his second year starting at Tulane. Despite missing two games with injury this season, he is placed fifth on the team in tackles with 31 tackles and third in tackles for loss (3.5). He also has totaled a sack and a forced fumble. Howard tied a school record with five fumble recoveries as a junior.
The nominated group includes 79 players from the FBS level.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performances on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation.
____________________________________
The program ranks fifth in turnovers gain (11) and sixth in the league this season in interceptions (6). Tulane is third in the conference in sacks allowed (7). Patrick Durkin is the American's leader in both field goals a game (1.75) and field goal percentage (93.3). Jake Retzlaff is placed fourth league in rushing touchdowns (9) and is 12th in rushing yards (513). He is also third in passing yards per completion (12.48). Javion White is second in the conference and is placed 15th nationally in interceptions (3).
The Tulane football team (6-2, 3-1 American) has started the 2025 season with six wins in the first eight games including a pair of wins over Power 4 opponents in the regular season for the first time since 1988. The program leads the country with 17 wins road wins since the start of the 2022 season.
Tulane ended the 2024 season playing in the program's third consecutive bowl game. It was also the sixth time in the last seven years that Tulane had been selected to play in a bowl game (2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 – Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl). Overall, it was Tulane's 17th bowl appearance (1932 – Rose Bowl, 1935 – Sugar Bowl, 1939 – Sugar Bowl, 1970 – Liberty Bowl, 1973 – Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, 1979 – Liberty Bowl, 1980 – Hall of Fame Bowl, 1987 – Independence Bowl, 1998 – Liberty Bowl, 2002 – Hawaii Bowl, 2013 – New Orleans, 2018 – Cure Bowl, 2019 – Armed Forces Bowl, 2020 -Famous Idaho Bowl, 2022 – Cotton Bowl, 2023 – Military Bowl and 2024 – Gasparilla Bowl) with the program sporting an all-time record of 7-10 in bowl games. Tulane also made the team's third straight American Championship Game appearance in 2024.
The program sports a 38-12 record over the last four seasons. The team's 38 wins is the eighth-most nationally.
Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been one of the most successful coaches in the country over the last four seasons with a record of 38-11, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returned to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.
Next the Tulane football team plays another prime time game on ESPN and visits Memphis to take on the No. 22 (AP)/ No. 23 (Coaches) ranked Tigers at 8 p.m. at Liberty Stadium.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football and the upcoming volleyball, men's and women's basketball seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane football on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Â
WE ARE NOLA BUILT
Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.
                                                     - TulaneGreenWave -
Players Mentioned
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SPR
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Tulane Tuesday: OL Jack Hollifield - 10/4/25
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Tulane Tuesday: HC Jon Sumrall - 11/4/25
Tuesday, November 04
Postgame at UTSA: Head Coach Jon Sumrall, WR Omari Hayes, S Bailey Despanie | Oct. 30, 2025
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