Penn State senior quarterback Matt McGloin has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award presented to college football’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.

The award, founded recently in 2010, honors Brandon Burlsworth, a former walk-on turned All-American who was killed in an automobile accident less than two weeks after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

McGloin is having a career year, leading the Big Ten in passing with 2,676 yards. He is averaging 267.6 yards a game and is 327 yards short of Daryll Clark’s single season passing record.

He has thrown 19 touchdowns, with at least one in every game, and only four interceptions. McGloin also leads the team in rushing touchdowns with five.

McGloin is also on pace to break a few other Penn State records. His 41 career touchdown passes are within striking distance of Clark’s record of 43 in a career and 24 in the 2009 season. With six more completions McGloin will pass Anthony Morelli’s record of 234 in a season. McGloin has already broken three Penn State records this year including single game completions when he connected on 35 in a comeback win against Northwestern.

50 candidates were nominated for the award including a few others from the Big Ten including Wisconsin receiver Jared Abbrederis, Michigan safety Jordan Kovacs, and Iowa kicker Mike Meyer.

Ten semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 20 and narrowed down to three a week later. The winner will be announced on Dec. 3 at an awards ceremony in Springdale, Ark.