USC running back King Miller is back in the spotlight, this time as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Burlsworth Trophy.
The award goes to the college football player who started as a walk-on and has stood out through performance, determination and perseverance. Miller fits that profile cleanly.
He began his college career as a walk-on, broke out in 2025 and has kept rolling in 2026, earning a starting job for the Trojans. USC also placed him on scholarship after the 2025 season.
Miller’s 2026 production has been steady and productive. He has run for 681 yards on 138 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt, and has scored five touchdowns.
He has also caught nine passes for 49 yards. His top rushing outings this season came against Louisiana, Rutgers and Penn State, with three 100-yard games: 128 yards against Louisiana and 102 yards apiece against Rutgers and Penn State.
He has now gone beyond 1,600 career rushing yards and 13 career rushing touchdowns.
His rise has been a fast one. In 2025, Miller put together a standout debut season and drew national attention as America’s most recognized walk-on.
He rushed for 972 yards on 156 carries, averaged 6.2 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns while appearing in all 13 games and making seven starts. He also added a successful two-point conversion, 16 receptions for 11 yards and two kick returns for 45 yards, with a long of 25.
That season brought a long list of honors: 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, The Athletic Freshman All-American Second Team, plus recognition as a Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist, Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week, Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week, Paul Hornung National Player of the Week and Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week.
The Burlsworth Trophy is in its 17th year and is named for Brandon Burlsworth, the former Arkansas walk-on who became a first-team All-American offensive lineman and the 63rd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. His story was later turned into the 2016 film “GREATER”.
This year’s semifinalists were chosen from 65 nominees representing Football Bowl Subdivision programs across the country. To qualify, a player must have started his college career at an FBS school without any athletic department financial assistance, and each FBS head coach may nominate one player.
Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 17.
The finalists and their families will be honored at the Burlsworth Trophy Award Show on Monday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, where the 2026 winner will be revealed.
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