Welcome to the 2020 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Throughout the May-August months, HERO Sports is going to name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-1. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on the 2019 season.
The full 99-1 countdown/schedule can be found here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2019 rosters.
64: P.J. Burkhalter, OL (Sr.) — Nicholls
Nicholls routinely has one of the best rushing offenses in the Southland Conference and the FCS. The big fellas up front, of course, deserve a ton of credit for that. A consistent presence on the offensive line in the last three years is Burkhalter.
He has been in the starting lineup since his redshirt freshman season in 2017, playing both guard and center throughout his Nicholls career.
Burkhalter earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in 2018, and then was recognized as a Top 5 offensive linemen in the FCS last year. He was named on five different All-American teams, four of which were the First Team. Burkhalter also earned All-Southland First Team honors along with being named the Southland Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The 6-foot-3, 330-pound road grader enters 2020 a HERO Sports Preseason First Team All-American.
NFL Draft Diamonds lists Burkhalter as a “sleeper” in the 2021 NFL Draft.
