Eastern Michigan Athletics
Beydoun Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
12/8/2020 12:25:00 PM | Football
The Dearborn, Mich. native was one of 67 players nominated for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University wide receiver Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was one of 67 players nominated for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award's 11th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, the former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Beydoun has a team-best 32 receptions for 372 yards in four games during the 2020 season. Ranked second in the Mid-American Conference and eighth nationally in receptions per game, the Dearborn, Mich. native has caught at least seven balls in every game this season. He posted a season-best nine catches for 112 yards against Kent State, Nov. 4, and followed it up by again hitting the century mark against Central Michigan, Nov. 27.
Beydoun also ranks fifth in the MAC and 30th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with 93.0 receiving yards per game. Overall, Eastern has the 24th-best passing offense nationally, while it leads the country in red zone offense as a perfect 23-of-23.
Beydoun first enrolled at EMU not planning to continue his football playing career. After seeing a walk-on opportunity that was posted online, he came for a tryout and was invited to be a member of the team after that walk-on camp.
The 5-foot-8 wideout earned a scholarship on Christmas Day 2019 as part of a surprise during the team's gift exchange prior to the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. Beydoun's gift was a wrapped box containing a letter from Head Coach Chris Creighton. Inside the letter was the message that due to his hard work and dedication to the program he had earned himself an official scholarship.
Beydoun had 30 receptions for 349 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season. He caught his first career touchdown in a victory over Central Connecticut State (Sept. 21). Beydoun also grabbed nine balls for a career-best 113 yards in the bowl game against Pittsburgh (Dec. 26).
The 2019 winner was defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State University. After receiving no Division I scholarship offers, Willekes walked-on at Michigan State, where he became All-American, the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Michigan State's all-time leader in tackles for loss (51). The 2018 winner was Clemson's Hunter Renfrow, who had 186 receptions for 2133 yards and 15 touchdowns, four of which were in national championship games.
"A college football walk-on faces an uphill battle from the very beginning. He has to prove himself to his coaches and teammates. He has to prove that he belongs," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon. "Beginning your college football career as a Walk-On isn't for everyone. It takes a tremendous work ethic and a great deal of determination. You have to want it! This group of Burlsworth Trophy nominees has proven to the college football world that they not only belong but can excel at the highest level of the game."
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on Jan. 4, 2021, to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2020 winner.
The 2020 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Beydoun has a team-best 32 receptions for 372 yards in four games during the 2020 season. Ranked second in the Mid-American Conference and eighth nationally in receptions per game, the Dearborn, Mich. native has caught at least seven balls in every game this season. He posted a season-best nine catches for 112 yards against Kent State, Nov. 4, and followed it up by again hitting the century mark against Central Michigan, Nov. 27.
Beydoun also ranks fifth in the MAC and 30th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with 93.0 receiving yards per game. Overall, Eastern has the 24th-best passing offense nationally, while it leads the country in red zone offense as a perfect 23-of-23.
Beydoun first enrolled at EMU not planning to continue his football playing career. After seeing a walk-on opportunity that was posted online, he came for a tryout and was invited to be a member of the team after that walk-on camp.
The 5-foot-8 wideout earned a scholarship on Christmas Day 2019 as part of a surprise during the team's gift exchange prior to the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit. Beydoun's gift was a wrapped box containing a letter from Head Coach Chris Creighton. Inside the letter was the message that due to his hard work and dedication to the program he had earned himself an official scholarship.
Beydoun had 30 receptions for 349 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season. He caught his first career touchdown in a victory over Central Connecticut State (Sept. 21). Beydoun also grabbed nine balls for a career-best 113 yards in the bowl game against Pittsburgh (Dec. 26).
The 2019 winner was defensive end Kenny Willekes from Michigan State University. After receiving no Division I scholarship offers, Willekes walked-on at Michigan State, where he became All-American, the Big 10 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Michigan State's all-time leader in tackles for loss (51). The 2018 winner was Clemson's Hunter Renfrow, who had 186 receptions for 2133 yards and 15 touchdowns, four of which were in national championship games.
"A college football walk-on faces an uphill battle from the very beginning. He has to prove himself to his coaches and teammates. He has to prove that he belongs," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon. "Beginning your college football career as a Walk-On isn't for everyone. It takes a tremendous work ethic and a great deal of determination. You have to want it! This group of Burlsworth Trophy nominees has proven to the college football world that they not only belong but can excel at the highest level of the game."
Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.
The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on Jan. 4, 2021, to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2020 winner.
The 2020 Burlsworth Trophy nominees are:
| School | Grade | Player | Position |
| Alabama, Birmingham | SR | Brontae Harris | DB |
| Appalachian State | SR | Caleb Spurlin | DE |
| Arizona State | JR | Cristian Zendejas | PK |
| Arkansas | SR | Grant Morgan | LB |
| Arkansas State | Soph | TW Ayers | DE/TE |
| Boise State | SR | Avery Williams | CB/KR/PR |
| Brigham Young | JR | Dax Milne | WR |
| Buffalo | SR | Jake Molinich | TE |
| California | SR | Marcel Dancy | RB |
| Clemson | SR | Will Spiers | P |
| Coastal Carolina | SR | Sammy Thompson | C/OL |
| Colorado | JR | Brady Russell | TE |
| Colorado State | JR | Barry Wesley | OT |
| East Carolina | Soph | Tyler Snead | IR/KR |
| Eastern Michigan | JR | Hassan Beydoun | WR |
| Florida Atlantic | SR | Ryan Veingrad | DL |
| Fresno State | Fresh | Bralyn Lux | DB |
| Georgia | Soph | Jack Podlesny | PK |
| Georgia State | JR | Jordan Strachan | OLB |
| Georgia Tech | SR | Djimon Brooks | DL |
| Hawaii | SR | Taaga Tuulima | OL |
| Iowa | SR | Keith Duncan | K |
| Iowa State | JR | Derek Schweiger | OL |
| Kansas | SR | Kwamie Lassiter II | WR |
| Kansas State | SR | Blake Lynch | K |
| Kentucky | SR | Zach Johnson | S/KR |
| Louisiana | JR | Shane Vallot | C |
| Louisiana Tech | SR | Ezekiel Barnett | LB |
| Louisville | Soph | Marshon Ford | TE |
| Marshall | SR | Nazeeh Johnson | S |
| Memphis | JR | Calvin Austin III | WR |
| Mississippi | SR | Mac Brown | P |
| Missouri | SR | Dawson Downing | RB |
| Nebraska | JR | Kade Warner | WR |
| Nevada | SR | Sam Hammond | DE |
| New Mexico | Fresh | Andrew Erickson | WR |
| New Mexico State | SR | Brennon Davis | LB |
| Northwestern | SR | Chris Bergin | LB |
| Notre Dame | JR | Michael Vinson | LS |
| Ohio State | Soph | Xavier Johnson | RB |
| Oklahoma | Soph | Drake Stoops | WR |
| Oklahoma State | SR | Ry Schneider | C |
| Oregon | JR | Ryan Walk | OL |
| Oregon State | JR | Jaydon Grant | DB |
| Pittsburgh | SR | Jimmy Morrissey | C |
| Rice | SR | Evan Marshman | QB |
| San Diego State | Soph | Jesse Matthews | WR |
| San Jose State | SR | Trevor Robbins | OL |
| South Carolina | SR | Parker White | PK |
| Southern Methodist | Soph | Tyler Lavine | RB |
| Stanford | JR | Brycen Tremanyne | WR |
| Syracuse | SR | Nolan Cooney | P |
| Temple | SR | Vincent Picozzi | OL |
| Texas A & M | SR | Cagan Baldree | FB |
| Texas at San Antonio | SR | Hunter Duplessis | PK |
| Texas Tech | Soph | Xavier White | RB |
| Toledo | SR | Samuel Womack | CB |
| Troy | JR | Carlton Martial | LB |
| Tulane | Soph | Noah Seiden | DE |
| UCLA | SR | Ethan Fernea | WR |
| UNC Charlotte | JR | Chris Reynolds | QB |
| Utah | SR | Drew Lisk | QB |
| Utah State | SR | Nick Heninger | OLB/DL |
| Wake Forest | Fresh | Nick Andersen | DB |
| Washington State | JR | Blake Mazza | K |
| West Virginia | SR | Dante Bonamico | DB |
| Western Kentucky | SR | Omari Alexander | DB |
Players Mentioned
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