Each NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Day is selected from the list of candidates for the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments. Nominated by their school as the absolute best all-around scholar-athlete on their team, 147 candidates met the high standards needed for consideration this year. As part of its effort to highlight the best of the gridiron, the NFF separately highlights each of these 147 candidates on its website. These outstanding individuals must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Rex Burkhead
Nebraska
Running Back
Plano, Texas
History
3.43 GPA

Additional Information:
2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete
2012 CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America
2012 CoSIDA Academic All-District
2012 Academic All-Big Ten
2012 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
2012 Senior CLASS Award Candidate
2011 CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America
2011 CoSIDA Academic All-District
2011 Academic All-Big Ten
2011 Big 12 Academic Honor Roll
2010 Academic All-Big 12
2010 Big 12 Academic Honor Roll
2009 Big 12 Academic Honor Roll

Community Service:
2012 AFCA Good Works Team member; 2011 winner of the National Rare Disease Champion Award for serving as a mentor for a six-year-old boy with pediatric brain cancer – he meets regularly with a boy and his family to provide hope and positivity; Executive committee member for the Nebraska Football Uplifting Athletes Chapter, raising money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer; Three-time Brook Berringer Citizenship Team for dedicated volunteer service at Nebraska’ Presented 2012 Hero Leadership Award; Volunteered for Nebraska State High School Activities Association Sportsmanship PSA and Anti-Bullying PSA; Fellowship of Christian Athletes member and motivational speaker; participated in wheelchair basketball game and Dawn Polleris Fundraise Festival; Regularly visitor to children’s hospitals and hospice centers; Honored by NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas as a High School Scholar-Athlete.

Click here to read more about Burkhead’s inspiring career on and off the field at Nebraska.