LARAMIE – In this new era of collegiate athletics, Ben Florentine's career feels like a throwback story.
 
Wyoming's standout defensive tackle has been developed from a 218-pound walk-on into an all-Mountain West caliber nose tackle over five years in the age of the transfer portal and NIL.
 
Florentine, who earned the nickname "Mustard Gas" from former head coach Craig Bohl after practicing through a gruesome finger dislocation, leads the Cowboys in sacks (5.0) and is tied with defensive end Tyce Westland for tackles for loss (6.0) this season.
 
The 6-foot-1, 282-pound senior from Anaheim, Calif., is nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy given to the most outstanding player who started his career as a walk-on.
 
The award honors Brandon Burlsworth, who went from walk-on to All-American offensive lineman at Arkansas and died in a car accident 11 days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Burlsworth's story is the subject of the 2016 movie "Greater."
 
"It's a great honor to be nominated for that award. I'm a humble guy but when I got that nomination, I'm just proud of the work I've put in," Florentine said. "It has paid off because I'm playing well this year. I've seen the movie and for the award to be named after (Burlsworth) is pretty special. To be a part of that group means a lot to me."
 
Florentine fell off the recruiting radar while playing his senior season under strict COVID-19 restrictions in California. Despite earning all-conference honors while racking up a team-high six tackles for loss during the pandemic-shortened campaign for powerhouse Servite High, college coaches did not seem interested.
 
After redshirting at UW in 2021, Florentine was thrust into the lineup at the end of the 2022 season against Boise State and Fresno State due to a cluster of injuries on the Pokes' defensive line.
 
A similar situation occurred during the Pokes' recent loss at San Diego State when Florentine and Lucas Samsula were the only available interior defensive linemen from the established rotation.
 
Tegen Seeds, a lightly recruited former offensive lineman from Douglas High, stepped into the spotlight against the Aztecs with a memorable interception from the defensive tackle position.
 
Florentine's mustard gas toughness is rubbing off on the redshirt freshman.
 
"It was insane," Florentine said of Seeds' performance. "The energy was crazy. It really made me laugh watching him run down the field and seeing him happy. He's a guy that gives full effort all the time, he wants to be there and get better every day."
 
With Florentine anchoring the unit, UW's defense ranks 30^th in the FBS in points allowed (20.2 ppg) and 50^th in yards allowed (348.0). 
 
"I'm so proud of our defense in all areas – the way that they play, the energy they bring, the mindset on the field," Florentine said. "It's really fun to be out there with that group of guys because I know they're going to handle their business, and I know I'm going to handle mine up front."
 
Florentine has appeared in 34 games during his career and started 20 consecutive games dating back to last season. He has 63 career tackles including a career-high 26 so far this season.
 
Earlier this season, Florentine became the first interior defensive lineman to have a sack in four consecutive games for the Pokes in the MW era.  He also has recorded a blocked field goal on the season.
 
Head coach Jay Sawvel's hiring of Deonte Gibson as defensive tackles coach helped Florentine take another step as a player from his junior to senior season.
 
"Absolutely I would say I've improved the most from last year to this year, especially in pass rush," Florentine said. "There's less thinking on the field for me; I'm just reacting and playing and that has been my goal all along. Obviously, becoming the player that I am was knowing what I had to get better at. This year I feel comfortable on the field, I feel comfortable in the situation I'm in and I'm confident in my ability to do those things."
 
The Cowboys have a critical road game against Fresno State on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium (8:30 p.m., FS1), which Florentine is focused on.
 
But even a player as tough as Mustard Gas knows Nov. 22 will be an emotional day when he plays at War Memorial Stadium for the final time as UW hosts Nevada in the looming home finale.
 
"I want to go out with a win, a dominant performance," Florentine said. "It's senior night so my family is going to be there, Josh Allen is going to pull up to the game, so that's pretty cool. Being in that environment one more time, playing to the best of my ability is the goal."
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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