Eastern Michigan Athletics
Beydoun Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
11/5/2021 5:13:00 PM | Football
The Dearborn, Mich. native was one of 88 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy
Complete List of Nominees.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University wide receiver Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was one of 88 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award's 12th 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.
"We've had some great stories with guys who have started out as walk-ons," EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton remarked at his weekly press conference this week. "However, right now to me, it should be the Burlsworth/Beydoun Trophy. You can't overstate the incredible story you know that Hassan has lived here in the last few years."
Beydoun has recorded three games with 10+ catches this season. He is currently one of only three players in the NCAA to have three-or-more such games (Jerreth Sterns - Western Kentucky.; Drake London - Southern California).
Beydoun was electric in EMU's win at Toledo, Nov. 2. He finished the game with a career-high 197 reception yards on 12 catches. Additionally, the wideout's effort is the 14th best by any player in the NCAA this season. The single-game high belongs to Texas' Xavier Worthy (261 vs. Oklahoma). The 197 yards is the most by any Eagle receiver in a game this year, and the second-best effort by any player in the MAC.
The Dearborn, Mich. native hauled in a season-long 64-yard touchdown in EMU's opening drive of the second half against the Rockets. The reception was the second-longest of Beydoun's career, just two yards shy of the 66-yard catch he recorded at Western Michigan, Dec. 5, 2020.
After his impressive performance against Toledo, Beydoun now has seven games with 100+ yards receiving at Eastern. He is one of only three players in program history to have hit that mark, joining Eric Deslauriers (14 total) and Kevin Walter (12 total).
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 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.
The 2020 winner was center Jimmy Morrissey from the University of Pittsburgh. After redshirting his freshman year in 2016, Morrissey won a hotly contested battle with several scholarship players and began an incredible career where he was the Panthers' starting center for four consecutive seasons.
"What a privilege it is to recognize these young men each year, those that chose to take on the challenge of beginning their college career as a Walk-On," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon. "We are excited to celebrate the achievements of these 89 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. These extraordinary young men have put in the work and have earned this honor."
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 award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2021 winner will be on Dec. 6 at 7p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
One week after its historic, bowl-qualifying road win at Toledo, the Eastern Michigan football team is set to return home for more Tuesday night #MACtion, this time playing host to Ohio, Nov. 9. The game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium.
Eastern Michigan (6-3, 3-2 MAC) is riding high after beating the Rockets, 52-49, to claim its first win inside UT's Glass Bowl Stadium since the 1999 season and earn bowl eligibility in the process, Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Ohio (2-7, 2-3 MAC) is back on the field following what was arguably its best win of the season, a 35-33 thriller over rival Miami on the same day.
The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Matt Schick providing the play-by-play and Charles Arbuckle serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action from the field.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University wide receiver Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was one of 88 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. In the award's 12th 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.
"We've had some great stories with guys who have started out as walk-ons," EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton remarked at his weekly press conference this week. "However, right now to me, it should be the Burlsworth/Beydoun Trophy. You can't overstate the incredible story you know that Hassan has lived here in the last few years."
Beydoun has recorded three games with 10+ catches this season. He is currently one of only three players in the NCAA to have three-or-more such games (Jerreth Sterns - Western Kentucky.; Drake London - Southern California).
Beydoun was electric in EMU's win at Toledo, Nov. 2. He finished the game with a career-high 197 reception yards on 12 catches. Additionally, the wideout's effort is the 14th best by any player in the NCAA this season. The single-game high belongs to Texas' Xavier Worthy (261 vs. Oklahoma). The 197 yards is the most by any Eagle receiver in a game this year, and the second-best effort by any player in the MAC.
The Dearborn, Mich. native hauled in a season-long 64-yard touchdown in EMU's opening drive of the second half against the Rockets. The reception was the second-longest of Beydoun's career, just two yards shy of the 66-yard catch he recorded at Western Michigan, Dec. 5, 2020.
After his impressive performance against Toledo, Beydoun now has seven games with 100+ yards receiving at Eastern. He is one of only three players in program history to have hit that mark, joining Eric Deslauriers (14 total) and Kevin Walter (12 total).
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 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.
The 2020 winner was center Jimmy Morrissey from the University of Pittsburgh. After redshirting his freshman year in 2016, Morrissey won a hotly contested battle with several scholarship players and began an incredible career where he was the Panthers' starting center for four consecutive seasons.
"What a privilege it is to recognize these young men each year, those that chose to take on the challenge of beginning their college career as a Walk-On," said Marty Burlsworth, President and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon. "We are excited to celebrate the achievements of these 89 players nominated for the 2021 Burlsworth Trophy. These extraordinary young men have put in the work and have earned this honor."
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 award ceremony to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2021 winner will be on Dec. 6 at 7p.m. CST at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
One week after its historic, bowl-qualifying road win at Toledo, the Eastern Michigan football team is set to return home for more Tuesday night #MACtion, this time playing host to Ohio, Nov. 9. The game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium.
Eastern Michigan (6-3, 3-2 MAC) is riding high after beating the Rockets, 52-49, to claim its first win inside UT's Glass Bowl Stadium since the 1999 season and earn bowl eligibility in the process, Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Ohio (2-7, 2-3 MAC) is back on the field following what was arguably its best win of the season, a 35-33 thriller over rival Miami on the same day.
The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Matt Schick providing the play-by-play and Charles Arbuckle serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action from the field.
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