Michael Crabtree, Calvin Johnson, Braylon Edwards and Larry Fitzgerald are just a few of past winners of the respected Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver.
To win the award the recipient must be an active collegiate receiver and must not have been declared to be ineligible by the NCAA or their school. Outside of those obvious rules, you just must be the absolute best receiver in the country.
Last year’s winner, Justin Blackmon, is back in the mix and will be attempting to do what Michael Crabtree did in 2007 and 2008, winning the Biletnikoff Award in back-to-back years.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club foundation is the creator and sponsor of the trophy and has narrowed the list down to a group of 10 semifinalists.
Below, I break down each receiver and their chances and then give you my personal rankings of where I feel the 10 receivers currently are. I will continue to track and update this list each week.
THE SEMIFINALISTS:
Keenan Allen – California
78 receptions – 1103 yards – 5 TDs
Per Game Average: 7.8 receptions – 110.3 yards (14.14 yards per reception)
Last Game: vs Oregon St: 3 receptions – 29 yards
If you get the chance to actually sit down and watch Keenan Allen, he is impressive. Has the blend of size, speed and good hands that will make him an NFL receiver one day.
This season he has been Mr. Consistency – one game removed. He has gone over 100 yards receiving in five games and before last week versus Oregon State he had not caught fewer than six footballs a game.
Allen is coming off a 3-reception, 29-yard game versus Oregon State. To win this award you must have the yards, touchdowns and correct hype machine behind you. Allen cannot afford another game like he had versus the Beavers.
Top Games: vs opponent (national rank in pass defense – to date)
- 9/24: at Washington: 10 receptions – 197 yards – TD
- 10/06: at Oregon: 9 receptions – 170 yards – TD
- 10/13: Southern Cal: 13 receptions – 160 yards
- 9/03: Fresno St: 8 receptions – 112 yards
- 9/10: at Colorado: 6 receptions – 104 yards – TD
- 11/05: Washington St: 8 receptions – 85 yards
- 9/17: Presbyterian: 6 receptions – 85 yards – TD
- 10/29: at UCLA: 7 receptions – 83 yards
- 10/22: Utah: 8 receptions – 78 yards
- 11/12: Oregon St: 3 receptions – 29 yards
Justin Blackmon – Oklahoma St
93 receptions – 1142 yards – 14 TDs
Per Game Average: 9.3 receptions – 114.2 yards (12.28 yards per reception)
Last Game: at Texas Tech: 6 receptions – 103 yards – 2 TDs
The receivers – nationwide – that can take over a game by themselves is few and far between.Justin Blackmon is one of those receivers.
I love Blackmon’s game. The obvious size and speed as well as how the guy maneuvers his body is a sight to be seen. My only concern, this year, has been an issue with drops. When you are going up against a defender that is well below your talent level – no matter who the opposition is – you may get bored too.
Blackmon has the numbers and he has the hype. Two games away from winning the Biletnikoff.
Top Games: vs opponent (national rank in pass defense – to date)
- 11/05: Kansas St: 13 receptions – 205 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/29: Baylor: 13 receptions – 172 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/03: Louisiana-Lafayette: 8 receptions – 144 yards
- 9/08: Arizona: 12 receptions – 128 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/24: at Texas A&M: 11 receptions – 121 yards – TD
- 11/12: at Texas Tech: 6 receptions – 103 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/08: Kansas: 8 receptions – 84 yards – TD
- 10/15: at Texas: 7 receptions – 74 yards – TD
- 9/17: at Tulsa: 7 receptions – 57 yards – TD
- 10/22: at Missouri: 8 receptions – 54 yards – TD
Ryan Broyles – Oklahoma
83 receptions – 1157 yards – 10 TDs
Per Game Averages: 13.94 receptions – 128.6 yards (13.94 yards per reception)
Last Game: Texas A&M: 2 receptions – 87 yards –
Ryan Broyles is a special talent. I absolutely hated to see him go down versus Texas A&M, which will cause him to miss the rest of the season.
Broyles had put up gaudy numbers to date and had a very realistic shot at winning the Biletnikoff Award. He is another receiver, if I am looking for something, that I have questions about his hands.
I hope for a speedy recovery and hope he can get back to 100 percent for his future’s sake, because he has one in the NFL.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/15: at Kansas: 13 receptions – 217 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/29: at Kansas St: 14 receptions – 171 yards – TD
- 9/03: Tulsa: 14 receptions – 158 yards – TD
- 9/24: Missouri: 13 receptions – 154 yards – 3 TDs
- 10/08: Texas: 9 receptions – 122 yards – TD
- 10/01: Ball St: 4 receptions – 109 yards – 2 TDs
- 11/05: Texas A&M: 2 receptions – 87 yards
- 10/22: Texas Tech: 7 receptions – 84 yards
- 9/17: Florida State: 7 receptions – 55 yards
Patrick Edwards – Houston
61 receptions – 1277 yards – 14 TDs
Per Game Averages: 6.1 receptions – 127.7 yards (20.93 yards per reception)
Last Game: at Tulane: 5 receptions – 129 yards – 3 TDs
Patrick is a smaller wide receiver but makes up for all of that and then some with what he can do.
Edwards now has three straight seasons of over 1,000 yards receiving – this year, being his best.
It will be hard for Patrick Edwards to be there for the Biletnikoff Award in the end, but he will definitely have the numbers to make an argument.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/27: Rice: 7 receptions – 318 yards – 5 TDs
- 9/10: at North Texas: 8 receptions – 187 yards – TD
- 9/29: at UTEP: 8 receptions – 144 yards
- 10/08: East Carolina: 12 receptions – 133 yards – 2 TDs
- 11/01: at Tulane: 5 receptions – 129 yards – 3 TDs
- 10/22: Marshall: 7 receptions – 109 yards – TD
- 9/17: at Louisiana Tech: 3 receptions – 81 yards – 2 TDs
- 11/05: at UAB: 5 receptions – 79 yards
- 9/24: Georgia St: 4 receptions – 76 yards
- 9/03: UCLA: 2 receptions – 21 yards
Michael Floyd – Notre Dame
77 receptions – 922 yards – 7 TDs
Per Game Averages: 7.7 receptions – 92.2 yards (11.98 yards per reception)
Last Game: Maryland: 9 receptions – 90 yards – TD
Michael Floyd is going to be a very rich man, very soon. Floyd is another receiver who is very fun to watch. Floyd high points the ball better than most I have seen this season.
He is not the world’s fastest receiver but is a guy that once he makes the catch can make you miss and pay dearly for ever allowing him to make a catch.
Floyd has had three games this season where he went under 50 yards receiving, so he is facing an uphill climb to claim this trophy.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 9/10: at Michigan: 13 receptions – 159 yards
- 9/03: South Florida: 12 receptions – 154 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/01: at Purdue: 12 receptions – 137 yards – TD
- 10/29: Navy: 6 receptions – 121 yards – TD
- 11/12: Maryland: 9 receptions – 90 yards – TD
- 9/17: Michigan St: 6 receptions – 84 yards
- 10/08: Air Force: 6 receptions – 78 yards – TD
- 11/05: at Wake Forest: 5 receptions – 44 yards – TD
- 10/22: Southern Cal: 4 receptions – 28 yards
- 9/24: at Pittsburgh: 4 receptions – 27 yards
A.J. Jenkins – Illinois
76 receptions – 1133 yards – 7 TDs
Per Game Averages: 7.6 receptions – 113.3 yards (14.91 yards per reception)
Last Game: 8 receptions – 103 yards
Jenkins is having a monster year for the Illini, especially considering that Jenkins is the made threat of the passing game by Illinois. Jenkins faces more scrutiny from opposing defenses but uses his speed, separation ability and good hands to put up some stellar numbers.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/01: Northwestern: 12 receptions – 268 yards – 3 TDs
- 10/08: at Indiana: 6 receptions – 182 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/03: Arkansas St: 11 receptions – 148 yards – TD
- 11/12: Michigan: 8 receptions – 103 yards
- 9/17: Arizona St: 6 receptions – 103 yards – TD
- 10/22: at Purdue: 8 receptions – 92 yards
- 10/15: Ohio St: 8 receptions – 80 yards
- 9/10: South Dakota St: 5 receptions – 71 yards
- 9/24: Western Michigan: 6 receptions – 43 yards
- 10/29: at Penn St: 6 receptions – 43 yards
Sammy Watkins – Clemson
69 receptions – 1040 yards – 10 TDs
Per Game Averages: 6.9 receptions – 104 yards (15.07 yards per reception)
Last Game: Wake Forest: 5 receptions – 62 yards
Sammy Watkins has taken the nation by storm as a true freshman, and even though every opposing defense now keys in on him and knows his name and number quite well, he appears to be an unstoppable force.
Following Watkins’ burst onto the scene he has came back down to earth “somewhat” with a subpar game versus Virginia Tech and then last week with 5 receptions and 62 yards versus Wake Forest where he was injured.
Being a freshman, Sammy will need to play this coming week and throughout in order to pull off the “upset” and win the Biletnikoff Award. Even if Sammy does not break through this year with the award, he very easily could win the next years – before he bolts to the NFL.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/29: at Georgia Tech: 10 receptions – 159 yards – TD
- 9/17: Auburn: 10 receptions – 155 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/08: Boston College: 7 receptions – 152 yards
- 9/24: Florida St: 7 receptions – 141 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/15: at Maryland: 8 receptions – 105 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/22: North Carolina: 8 receptions – 91 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/03: Troy: 7 receptions – 81 yards – TD
- 11/12: Wake Forest: 5 receptions – 62 yards
- 9/10: Wofford: 4 receptions – 56 yards – TD
- 10/01: at Virginia Tech: 3 receptions – 38 yards
Jordan White – Western Michigan
111 receptions – 1402 yards – 12 TDs
Per Game Averages: 11.1 receptions – 140.2 yards (12.63 yards per reception)
Last Game: at Toledo: 16 receptions – 238 yards – 3 TDs
Jordan White has had an unreal season. His level of competition will do him in, but you cannot escape the unreal numbers he has produced. His last game coming against Toledo where he went over 200 yards for the first time this season, certainly does not hurt his chances.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 11/08: at Toledo: 16 receptions – 238 yards – 3 TDs
- 9/17: Central Michigan: 13 receptions – 177 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/01: at UCONN: 12 receptions – 173 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/29: Ball St: 9 receptions – 172 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/08: Bowling Green: 12 receptions – 156 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/24: at Illinois: 14 receptions – 132 yards – TD
- 9/03: at Michigan: 12 receptions – 119 yards
- 10/15: at Northern Illinois: 12 receptions – 98 yards
- 10/22: at Eastern Michigan: 7 receptions – 70 yards
- 9/10: Nicholls St: 4 receptions – 67 yards
Robert Woods – Southern Cal
92 receptions – 1126 yards – 11 TDs
Per Game Averages: 9.2 receptions – 112.6 yards per game (12.24 yards per reception)
Last Game: Washington: 2 receptions – 5 yards
Robert Woods – like Keenan Allen – is coming off a subpar game of only 2 catches for 5 yards. Woods has about 20 more catches than Allen does on the season.
Woods is a very special talent who is putting together a solid season for the Trojans. Six games over 100 yards and in all but two games Robert Woods went over 80 yards receiving. Woods cannot afford anymore subpar games for a shot to close with the Biletnikoff.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/01: Arizona: 14 receptions – 255 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/03: Minnesota: 17 receptions – 177 yards – 3 TDs
- 9/24: at Arizona St: 8 receptions – 131 yards
- 11/04: at Colorado: 9 receptions – 130 yards – 2 TDs
- 10/22: at Notre Dame: 12 receptions – 119 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/10: Utah: 8 receptions – 102 yards
- 10/29: Stanford: 9 receptions – 89 yards – TD
- 9/17: Syracuse: 8 receptions – 82 yards – TD
- 10/13: at California: 5 receptions – 36 yards
- 11/12: Washington: 2 receptions – 5 yards
Kendall Wright – Baylor
81 receptions – 1073 yards – 9 TDs
Per Game Averages: 9 receptions – 119.2 yards (13.25 yards per receptions)
Last Game: at Kansas: 8 receptions – 102 yards
Kendall Wright has been RG3’s favorite target this season. I love watching Wright play because he has a tremendous burst off the line. He is somewhere in the 4.4 range, but he is very impressive in and out of cuts during his route. Can separate well, a key for the next level – which I feel he has a future in.
For the BIletnikoff he is on the outside looking in. He would have to absolutely go off in record making fashion to have a realistic chance but that should not diminish the type of season he has had to date.
Top Games: vs opponent
- 10/01: at Kansas St: 9 receptions – 201 yards – 3 TDs
- 9/02: TCU: 12 receptions – 189 yards – 2 TDs
- 9/17: Stephen F. Austin: 8 receptions – 123 yards – TD
- 10/29: at Oklahoma St: 11 receptions – 117 yards
- 9/24: Rice: 11 receptions – 108 yards – TD
- 11/12: at Kansas: 8 receptions – 102 yards
- 11/05: Missouri: 7 receptions – 97 yards
- 10/08: Iowa St: 8 receptions – 69 yards – TD
- 10/15: at Texas A&M: 7 receptions – 67 yards – TD
HOW I WOULD CURRENTLY RANK THEM:
- Justin Blackmon – Oklahoma State
- Robert Woods – USC
- Sammy Watkins – Clemson
- Jordan White – Western Michigan
- Patrick Edwards – Houston
- A.J Jenkins – Illinois
- Kendall Wright – Baylor
- Michael Floyd – Notre Dame
- Keenan Allen – California
- Ryan Broyles – Oklahoma
