FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- San Diego State wide receiver Jesse Matthews has been named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, the Springdale Rotary Club announced Tuesday. Matthews is one of 67 student-athletes on the list.
The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding collegiate football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Nominees must have started their first season of participation with a Division I football program without financial aid of any kind from their athletic department. The trophy is named in honor of former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth.
Matthews has started all seven games for the Aztecs this year, making 19 catches for 275 yards (14.5 avg.) with a touchdown and a long reception of 51 yards. The sophomore leads the team in catches (19), receiving yards (275) and a long catch of 51 yards. Additionally, Matthews has returned 11 punts for 100 yards (9.1 avg.) with a long of 29 yards, ranking third in the Mountain West and 19th in FBS play in punt return average.
It is the second consecutive season Matthews has been a Burslworth Trophy Nominee. Last year, Matthews had 48 catches for 633 yards (13.2 avg.) with two touchdowns. Among freshmen in SDSU single-season history, Matthews ranked second in receptions (48) and third in receiving yards (633). He was rewarded with a scholarship in Dec. 2019.
Previous SDSU nominees for the award include current Houston Texan Kahale Warring (2017-18), current San Francisco 49er Daniel Brunskill (2016), Dakota Gordon (2015), Joel Alesi (2014) and Chad Young (2013).
The 2019 winner was Michigan State defensive end Kenny Willekes.
The Burlsworth Trophy will host an awards ceremony virtually on January 4, 2021 to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2020 winner.
San Diego State wraps up its regular season Saturday night at No. 14/16 Brigham Young in Provo, Utah. Game time is set for 8 p.m. MT (7 p.m. PT).