‘Greater’ tells story of Hog

In Brandon Burlsworth, the bespectacled former walk-on from Arkansas, former Colts general manager Bill Polian believed he had drafted a player who could be to Indianapolis' offensive line what Peyton Manning was at quarterback.

Burlsworth was working with the Colts' starters at his very first mini-camp in 1999. He never got the chance to prove Polian correct. Eleven days after being drafted, Burlsworth was killed in a car crash while driving from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to his hometown of Harrison. He was 22.

Burlsworth's inspiring life story is the subject of the film "Greater," which opened Friday in theaters around the country.

"The good thing about this is Brandon's legend lives on in Arkansas, but through this film millions of kids and families around America will get to know him," said Polian, who is now working as an NFL analyst for ESPN.

"Greater" is the first film made by producer Brian Reindl, an Arkansas football fan and real estate developer. Reindl convinced Burlsworth's parents to trust him with their son's story in 2005.

Burlsworth's walk-on tale is familiar in many ways. He dreamed of playing major college football for the big state school, but was not good enough to receive scholarship. A late bloomer, he was 260 pounds as a senior in high school, but had enough athleticism and determination to earn a spot at Arkansas