Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Faison has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award which is given to the most outstanding football player in the nation who began his career as a walk-on.
Faison joined the Notre Dame football team during 2023 preseason camp as a walk-on player, planning to compete for a roster spot with the team and, as one of the top prep lacrosse players in the nation, join the defending national champion Notre Dame lacrosse team as a scholarship player in the spring of 2024.
Faison made his collegiate athletics debut in 2023 at No. 25 Louisville, catching two passes for 48 yards – which included a 36-yard touchdown grab. Faison’s debut was just the beginning. He would end the season with 19 catches for 322 yards and four touchdowns, capping the year by earning Sun Bowl MVP honors with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
So far in 2024, Faison has totaled eight receptions for 81 yards through five games (two starts). He was named the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week for his performance vs. Louisville, a game in which he started at wide receiver, made two catches and had a key punch-away on an errant snap on a punt formation in the first quarter, which led to the third touchdown of the quarter by the Irish one play later.
He also led Irish receivers in the 51-14 win over No. 24 Navy with four receptions for 52 yards, including 25 yards-after-catch. In addition, he saw action on special teams, returning a kickoff 16 yards, the only Notre Dame kickoff return of the day.
Faison competed with the men’s lacrosse team and won a national championship this past season.