Eastern Michigan Athletics
Beydoun Recognized by Paul Hornung Award Watch List
7/28/2022 1:01:00 PM | Football
The award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) has been named to the 2022 Paul Hornung Award Watch List, the Louisville Sports Commission announced Thursday, July 28. The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in Football Bowl Subdivision in the memory of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung.
Beydoun is the first EMU player to receive the preseason accolade since 2020, when Dylan Drummond was tabbed with the honor. Overall, he is one of six Mid-American Conference receivers named to the 52-man list.
He has previously been announced as a candidate for the Biletnikoff and the Maxwell Award.
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 wide out since 2004.
A two-time nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, the former walk-on has 167 career receptions, a number that is good for fourth-most in program history. Beydoun is on pace to take over the number one spot in the category, as he sits just 81 receptions shy of all-time leader Eric Deslauriers (248).
Overall, he recorded three games with 10+ catches last season. Beydoun was one of only three players in the NCAA to have three-or-more such games (Jerreth Sterns - Western Kentucky; Drake London - Southern California). He also served as the Eagles' main return man, leading the squad in punt returns (11), punt return yards (62), kick returns (15), and kick return yards (284).
Beydoun recorded a game-high 11 catches for 83 yards in the LendingTree Bowl versus Liberty, Dec. 18. He totaled 12 receptions for a career-high 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win at Toledo, Nov. 2. The Dearborn, Mich. native hauled in a career-high 14 receptions for 167 yards against Ball State, Oct. 16. That number is tied for 20th in all-time single game receptions at EMU, and was the best for an Eagle since the 2014 season. His 14 receptions are tied for fifth-most in a single-game all time at EMU.
"Paul Hornung's approach to playing football at Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers was to take on any assignment in order to help his team win games," said Karl Schmitt Jr., president & CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, owners and operators of the Award. "We created this award as a way to reward college players who selflessly take on the burden of playing multiple positions and exceling at a high level. In addition, we are pleased to introduce new generations of players to the legacy of Hornung, recognized as one of the most versatile players in the history of college and pro football."
Hornung, who passed away in his hometown at age 84 on Nov. 13, 2020, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game."
The 2022 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2022 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award's criteria. Players from both the Watch List and the Honor Roll are eligible to win the Award.
Season tickets are on sale in anticipation for the fall, as fans will have the opportunity to pick their seat inside the stadium. The "fan-friendly" 2022 schedule features six home games, five will be played before the month of October concludes. Furthermore, Eastern will defend the gray turf for four-of-six games between Sept. 24 and Oct. 29.
Eastern Michigan continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for just $144. This package includes a wide chairback with armrests on the 50-yard line along with VIP season parking. Chairback Season Tickets are $108 and include a chairback in Reserved Sections 104-109.
Reserved season tickets are just $99 (Reserved Sections 104-109), while General Admission season tickets are $75 (Sections 110-114 and the visiting side).
Tickets are on sale at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
Complete Candidate List
Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Rasheen Ali, Marshall
Kazmeir Allen, UCLA
Amad Anderson, Temple
Brian Battie, USF
Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB
Jordan Byrd, San Diego State
Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte
Stefan Cobbs, Boise State
Jack Colletto, Oregon State
Ron Cook Jr., Buffalo
Blake Corum, Michigan
Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
Derius Davis, TCU
Demario Douglas, Liberty
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Maquel Haywood, Navy
Jha'Quan Jackson, Tulane
D'Shawn Jamison, Texas
Charlie Jones, Purdue
Malik Knowles, Kansas State
Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee
Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
Jo'Quavious Marks, Mississippi State
Devin Maddox, Toledo
DJ Matthews Jr., Indiana
Bryan Massey, SMU
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Ryan Montgomery, Cincinnati
Taylor Morin, Wake Forest
Ryan O'Keefe, UCF
Trey Palmer, Nebraska
Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Myles Price, Texas Tech
Jayden Reed, Michigan State
Nikko Remigio, Fresno State
Brenden Rice, Southern Cal
Tyrell Robinson, Army
Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
Will Shipley, Clemson
Tarheeb Still, Maryland
Jaylen Stinson, Duke
Jonathan Sutherland, Penn State
Titus Swen, Wyoming
Milan Tucker, Appalachian State
Sean Tyler, Western Michigan
Chris Tyree, Notre Dame
Jalen Walker, Miami (OH)
Luke Wysong, New Mexico
Beydoun is the first EMU player to receive the preseason accolade since 2020, when Dylan Drummond was tabbed with the honor. Overall, he is one of six Mid-American Conference receivers named to the 52-man list.
He has previously been announced as a candidate for the Biletnikoff and the Maxwell Award.
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 wide out since 2004.
A two-time nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, the former walk-on has 167 career receptions, a number that is good for fourth-most in program history. Beydoun is on pace to take over the number one spot in the category, as he sits just 81 receptions shy of all-time leader Eric Deslauriers (248).
Overall, he recorded three games with 10+ catches last season. Beydoun was one of only three players in the NCAA to have three-or-more such games (Jerreth Sterns - Western Kentucky; Drake London - Southern California). He also served as the Eagles' main return man, leading the squad in punt returns (11), punt return yards (62), kick returns (15), and kick return yards (284).
Beydoun recorded a game-high 11 catches for 83 yards in the LendingTree Bowl versus Liberty, Dec. 18. He totaled 12 receptions for a career-high 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win at Toledo, Nov. 2. The Dearborn, Mich. native hauled in a career-high 14 receptions for 167 yards against Ball State, Oct. 16. That number is tied for 20th in all-time single game receptions at EMU, and was the best for an Eagle since the 2014 season. His 14 receptions are tied for fifth-most in a single-game all time at EMU.
"Paul Hornung's approach to playing football at Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers was to take on any assignment in order to help his team win games," said Karl Schmitt Jr., president & CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, owners and operators of the Award. "We created this award as a way to reward college players who selflessly take on the burden of playing multiple positions and exceling at a high level. In addition, we are pleased to introduce new generations of players to the legacy of Hornung, recognized as one of the most versatile players in the history of college and pro football."
Hornung, who passed away in his hometown at age 84 on Nov. 13, 2020, played every position in the offensive backfield during his career with the Irish in the 1950s and also played defensive safety, punted, placekicked and returned kickoffs. He was named All-America at quarterback as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy in 1956, then was the first player selected in the NFL draft, going to Green Bay. He earned NFL MVP honors for the Packers in 1961 as a triple-threat halfback and placekicker by setting a single-season NFL scoring record that stood for 46 years. He is a member of the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame, and Vince Lombardi once called him, "The most versatile man ever to play the game."
The 2022 Watch List was compiled by a panel of college football experts based on a combination of statistics, career performance, SID recommendations and expectations heading into the 2022 season. In addition to the Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll will recognize players whose performances during the regular season meet the Award's criteria. Players from both the Watch List and the Honor Roll are eligible to win the Award.
Season tickets are on sale in anticipation for the fall, as fans will have the opportunity to pick their seat inside the stadium. The "fan-friendly" 2022 schedule features six home games, five will be played before the month of October concludes. Furthermore, Eastern will defend the gray turf for four-of-six games between Sept. 24 and Oct. 29.
Eastern Michigan continues to offer the Ultimate Fan Season Ticket Plan for just $144. This package includes a wide chairback with armrests on the 50-yard line along with VIP season parking. Chairback Season Tickets are $108 and include a chairback in Reserved Sections 104-109.
Reserved season tickets are just $99 (Reserved Sections 104-109), while General Admission season tickets are $75 (Sections 110-114 and the visiting side).
Tickets are on sale at EMUEagles.com/tickets, by calling 734.487.3669 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office.
Complete Candidate List
Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Rasheen Ali, Marshall
Kazmeir Allen, UCLA
Amad Anderson, Temple
Brian Battie, USF
Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan
Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB
Jordan Byrd, San Diego State
Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte
Stefan Cobbs, Boise State
Jack Colletto, Oregon State
Ron Cook Jr., Buffalo
Blake Corum, Michigan
Aron Cruickshank, Rutgers
Derius Davis, TCU
Demario Douglas, Liberty
Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Maquel Haywood, Navy
Jha'Quan Jackson, Tulane
D'Shawn Jamison, Texas
Charlie Jones, Purdue
Malik Knowles, Kansas State
Jaylin Lane, Middle Tennessee
Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas
Jo'Quavious Marks, Mississippi State
Devin Maddox, Toledo
DJ Matthews Jr., Indiana
Bryan Massey, SMU
Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Ryan Montgomery, Cincinnati
Taylor Morin, Wake Forest
Ryan O'Keefe, UCF
Trey Palmer, Nebraska
Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
Myles Price, Texas Tech
Jayden Reed, Michigan State
Nikko Remigio, Fresno State
Brenden Rice, Southern Cal
Tyrell Robinson, Army
Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
Will Shipley, Clemson
Tarheeb Still, Maryland
Jaylen Stinson, Duke
Jonathan Sutherland, Penn State
Titus Swen, Wyoming
Milan Tucker, Appalachian State
Sean Tyler, Western Michigan
Chris Tyree, Notre Dame
Jalen Walker, Miami (OH)
Luke Wysong, New Mexico
Players Mentioned
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