FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After winning the Burlsworth Trophy in 2024 as the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on, Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher was again announced as a semifinalist for the award on Tuesday by the Burlsworth Trophy selection committee.

Boettcher became the first Duck to win the honor last season, and is looking to join Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield as the only players to be two-time Burlsworth Trophy recipients. 

The redshirt senior is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy, and one of two from the Big Ten along with USC running back King Miller. 

Boettcher leads the Ducks this season and is tied for seventh in the Big Ten with 72 total tackles, 27 more than any other Oregon defender. He surpassed 200 career tackles with eight in last week’s top-20 win at Iowa while also recording his first sack of the season.

A Eugene native, Boettcher had three straight double-digit tackle games earlier this season with 10 against Oregon State, a career-high 13 at Penn State and 11 against Indiana. He also pulled in an interception in Week 3 at Northwestern and forced a fumble with a tackle for loss in Week 9 against Wisconsin. 

In 49 career games for the Ducks, Boettcher has racked up 205 total tackles with 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven pass breakups. 

Boettcher was a former walk-on in both football and baseball for the Ducks, getting drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He became the fifth player in UO baseball history to win a ABCA/Rawlings Golf Glove for his outstanding defense in center field in 2024 while also enjoying a breakout year at the plate with a .276/.273/.500 slash line, a career-high 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. 

Boettcher and the No. 9 Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) will host Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) this Friday, Nov. 14, at 6:00 p.m. PT in Autzen Stadium (FOX). 

2025 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalists
WR Josh Cameron – Baylor
QB Drew Mestemaker – North Texas
WR Jordan Faison – Notre Dame
OL Febechi Nwaiwu – Oklahoma
ILB Bryce Boettcher – Oregon
RB DeSean Bishop – Tennessee
DB Michael Taafe – Texas
RB King Miller – USC
QB Bryson Barnes – Utah State
RB J’Mari Taylor – Virginia