Eastern Michigan Athletics
Beydoun Nominated for Burlsworth Trophy
11/2/2022 9:07:00 AM | Football
The award is given annually to best former walk-on in college football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was officially named one of the 81 players in contention for the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy, the organization announced yesterday, Nov. 1. Beydoun was also nominated in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
In the award's 13th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America 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 with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Selected to both the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as a Preseason First Team All-MAC selection in 2022, Beydoun is coming off a historic 2021 campaign that saw him collect Second Team All-MAC honors. He set the EMU record for receptions in a season and led the MAC with 97 grabs, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. Beydoun's 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wideout since 2004.
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.
Since earning his scholarship, Beydoun has led all Eastern Michigan pass catchers with 180 receptions for 1,968 yards. He leads all EMU pass catchers with 34 receptions in 2022, and is second on the team in receiving yards, with 332.
He was electric for the EMU offense in its game at Ball State, Oct. 22. Beydoun led EMU with a season-high 10 receptions for 85 yards. It is the most receptions for Beydoun since he hauled in 11 in a game against Liberty University, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Prior to the contest in Muncie, Beydoun had just 19 receptions of the season. His effort at Ball State accounts for 34 percent of his total receptions this season (29), and 29 percent of his total yardage (297).
One of the most impressive former walk-on stories in the nation, Beydoun's list of accomplishments at Eastern Michigan is extensive.
Beydoun's Notable Accomplishments
»Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,204 yards through the air in his career, Beydoun is just one of four players to cross into that territory. He currently ranks third all-time in program history, behind Kevin Walter (2,838 yards from 1999-02) and Eric Deslauriers (3,250 yards from 2003-06).
» Has 201 career pass receptions, which ranks No. 9 among all NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision players as of Nov. 2, 2022.
» Beydoun 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 Deslauriers (14 total) and Walter (12 total).
» Was named the team's most valuable player following the 2021 campaign, becoming the first wide receiver to earn the honor since the 2008 season, when Tyler Jones captured the accolade.
» Will officially finish his Eastern Michigan career with five varsity letters earned.
» Beydoun is EMU's all-time program record leader in receptions per game for a single season (8.0 in 2020). That number had not been broken since the 2000 campaign when he eclipsed it in 2020.
» Holds the EMU all-time record for reception yards in a bowl game after finishing with 113 against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl. He also holds the No. 2 spot on that list after going for 83 yards against Liberty in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
» Holds the EMU all-time record for total receptions in a bowl game after finishing with 11 against Liberty in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl. He also holds the No. 2 spot on that list after collecting nine receptions against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl.
» Has five games with 10+ catches during his EMU career, which ranks second all-time in program history. He passed Walter in that category with his 10-catch day at Ball State, Oct. 22.
» Second Team All-MAC selection in 2021.
» Set the EMU record for receptions in a season with 97 in 2021, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. Beydoun's 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wideout since 2004.
» Led the Mid-American Conference in receptions in 2021 (97).
» Tallied 10-plus receptions in four games and recorded three 100-plus receiving yard games in 2021. He was one of just three players in NCAA Division I football to record such feats.
» Served as the Eagles' main return man in 2021, leading the squad in punt returns (11), punt return yards (62), kick returns (15), and kick return yards (284)
» Totaled 12 receptions for a career-high 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win at Toledo (Nov. 2, 2021).
» Amassed a career-high 14 receptions for 167 yards at Northern Illinois (Oct. 2, 2021), tied for 20th in all-time single game reception yards at EMU. Beydoun's effort was the best for an EMU player since the 2016 season...His 14 receptions are tied for fifth-most in a single-game all-time at EMU.
» Third Team All-MAC selection in 2020.
» Led the MAC and ranked eighth nationally with 8.0 receptions per game in 2020 (EMU program record in a single season).
» Caught at least seven passes in every game in 2020.
» Has a 3.05 GPA at Eastern Michigan.
» Has contributed more than 60 hours of community service since his arrival on campus.
In the award's 13th year, the trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman. Burlsworth's life is also the subject of a major motion picture, "GREATER", which was released in 2016. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America 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 with FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university's athletic department.
Selected to both the Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as a Preseason First Team All-MAC selection in 2022, Beydoun is coming off a historic 2021 campaign that saw him collect Second Team All-MAC honors. He set the EMU record for receptions in a season and led the MAC with 97 grabs, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. Beydoun's 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wideout since 2004.
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.
Since earning his scholarship, Beydoun has led all Eastern Michigan pass catchers with 180 receptions for 1,968 yards. He leads all EMU pass catchers with 34 receptions in 2022, and is second on the team in receiving yards, with 332.
He was electric for the EMU offense in its game at Ball State, Oct. 22. Beydoun led EMU with a season-high 10 receptions for 85 yards. It is the most receptions for Beydoun since he hauled in 11 in a game against Liberty University, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Prior to the contest in Muncie, Beydoun had just 19 receptions of the season. His effort at Ball State accounts for 34 percent of his total receptions this season (29), and 29 percent of his total yardage (297).
One of the most impressive former walk-on stories in the nation, Beydoun's list of accomplishments at Eastern Michigan is extensive.
Beydoun's Notable Accomplishments
»Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,204 yards through the air in his career, Beydoun is just one of four players to cross into that territory. He currently ranks third all-time in program history, behind Kevin Walter (2,838 yards from 1999-02) and Eric Deslauriers (3,250 yards from 2003-06).
» Has 201 career pass receptions, which ranks No. 9 among all NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision players as of Nov. 2, 2022.
» Beydoun 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 Deslauriers (14 total) and Walter (12 total).
» Was named the team's most valuable player following the 2021 campaign, becoming the first wide receiver to earn the honor since the 2008 season, when Tyler Jones captured the accolade.
» Will officially finish his Eastern Michigan career with five varsity letters earned.
» Beydoun is EMU's all-time program record leader in receptions per game for a single season (8.0 in 2020). That number had not been broken since the 2000 campaign when he eclipsed it in 2020.
» Holds the EMU all-time record for reception yards in a bowl game after finishing with 113 against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl. He also holds the No. 2 spot on that list after going for 83 yards against Liberty in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
» Holds the EMU all-time record for total receptions in a bowl game after finishing with 11 against Liberty in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl. He also holds the No. 2 spot on that list after collecting nine receptions against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl.
» Has five games with 10+ catches during his EMU career, which ranks second all-time in program history. He passed Walter in that category with his 10-catch day at Ball State, Oct. 22.
» Second Team All-MAC selection in 2021.
» Set the EMU record for receptions in a season with 97 in 2021, as he racked up 1,015 yards through the air. Beydoun's 2021 tally ranks fourth in the Eastern Michigan record book, while he also became EMU's first 1,000-yard wideout since 2004.
» Led the Mid-American Conference in receptions in 2021 (97).
» Tallied 10-plus receptions in four games and recorded three 100-plus receiving yard games in 2021. He was one of just three players in NCAA Division I football to record such feats.
» Served as the Eagles' main return man in 2021, leading the squad in punt returns (11), punt return yards (62), kick returns (15), and kick return yards (284)
» Totaled 12 receptions for a career-high 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win at Toledo (Nov. 2, 2021).
» Amassed a career-high 14 receptions for 167 yards at Northern Illinois (Oct. 2, 2021), tied for 20th in all-time single game reception yards at EMU. Beydoun's effort was the best for an EMU player since the 2016 season...His 14 receptions are tied for fifth-most in a single-game all-time at EMU.
» Third Team All-MAC selection in 2020.
» Led the MAC and ranked eighth nationally with 8.0 receptions per game in 2020 (EMU program record in a single season).
» Caught at least seven passes in every game in 2020.
» Has a 3.05 GPA at Eastern Michigan.
» Has contributed more than 60 hours of community service since his arrival on campus.
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