Tag: Biletnikoff Award

Florida tight end Pitts the favorite to win this postseason award

Kyle Pitts is one of 3 finalists for both the John Mackey Award for the best tight end and the Biletnikoff Award for the top pass-catcher.

[jwplayer Xrm3URhk]

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts has the opportunity to bring home some hardware tonight. The standout player and likely first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is nominated for two awards tonight at the Home Depot College Football Awards.

Pitts is one of three finalists for both the John Mackey award, given to the nation’s best tight end, and the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the top pass-catcher in the country. Pitts is the first player to be nominated for both since Chase Coffman, the 2008 winner of the Mackey.

Though Heisman Trophy-winning receiver Devonta Smith is all but guaranteed to take home the Biletnikoff, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach thinks Pitts is the favorite to win the Mackey over finalists Charlie Kolar from Iowa State and Jalen Wydermyer from Texas A&M. Here’s what he said about this year’s race for the Mackey.

Who should win: Pitts. He was a matchup nightmare for any defense he faced because of his height, speed and length. He was PFF’s top-rated tight end with a 96.2 overall grade, finishing with 43 receptions for 770 yards with 12 touchdowns. He didn’t have a drop in 65 targets and 39 of his catches were for first downs.

Who will win: Pitts

Pitts is the first Florida finalist for the Mackey since Aaron Hernandez in 2009, who won the award.

[lawrence-related id=32616,32603,32581,32579,32576]

[listicle id=32406]

[vertical-gallery id=32378]

Kyle Pitts becomes first tight end finalist for Biletnikoff Award

Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts becomes the fifth Gator to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff and the first since Jabar Gaffney in 2001.

[jwplayer 7EpR0Wmp]

Kyle Pitts had a mind-blowing statistical season for a tight end. He made 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns, which is even more impressive considering injuries held him out of three of Florida’s 11 games. Naturally, his performance on the field this year earned him a nomination for the Mackey Award for the best tight end in the nation.

Pitts is all but guaranteed to win that award, but his eyes may be on an even greater prize. He was nominated for the Biletnikoff Award, generally given to the best wide receiver in the nation. He’s the first tight end ever to be a finalist for the award.

He becomes the fifth Gator to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff and the first since Jabar Gaffney in 2001.

His competition for this award is a bit stiffer than for the Mackey, though. His fellow finalists are Alabama receiver Devonta Smith and Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore, both of whom are having impressive statistical seasons.

Smith is regarded by many as the nation’s best player, and he has 98 catches for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is almost guaranteed to win the award, and Moore will likely finish second, as he is having an impressive season in his own right. He has 86 catches for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns.

It’s unlikely Pitts comes home with both the Mackey and Biletnikoff, but being a finalist for an award historically reserved for wide receivers is yet another mark of the historic season he had.

[lawrence-related id=31352,31331,31303,31290,31273]

[listicle id=31298]

[vertical-gallery id=31025]

Ohio State WR Chris Olave named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watchlist

Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave has been named to the Biletnikoff preseason watchlist as announced on Thursday.

We may be still waiting to see if we’ll even be able to see Ohio State football this fall, or what kind of college football season we’ll have, but that hasn’t stopped the annual parade of award watchlists from coming out.

The latest has to do with the Biletnikoff Award, given to the receiver judged to be the best in college football on an annual basis. It doesn’t have to be a wide receiver but can include any position player that catches passes. The award has been handed out on a yearly basis by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation since 1994. And on that list of 55 names is Buckeye rising junior receiver Chris Olave.

Olave broke out in the Michigan game two years ago but separated himself even further this past fall, leading all OSU receivers in yards receiving and touchdowns. He’s a smooth route runner that can run away from opposing defensive backs and he’s expected to take an even further step in 2020.

Ohio State has just one winner of the Biletnikoff, Terry Glenn back in 1995.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.

2 Alabama WRs named to Biletnikoff award watch list

Two Alabama WRs, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith have been named to the Biletnikoff award watch list.

Alabama has recently produced some impressive wide receivers that have gone on to the NFL. Names like Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III all call the Crimson Tide their former home.

Of the aforementioned receivers, only two won the Biletnikoff award, the award garners national recognition as college football’s best wide receiver, they are Amari Cooper in 2014 and Jerry Jeudy in 2018.

A preseason watch list was published by the Biletnikoff award’s website, and two members of the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide team are mentioned.

Jaylen Waddle, a junior, and DeVonta Smith, a senior, were both named on the list along with players from programs all across the country from various conferences.

Waddle finished the 2019 season with 33 catches for 560 yards and six touchdowns. Smith ended his junior season with 68 catches for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Both receivers are expected to declare for the 2021 NFL draft and be selected in the first round.

The watch list is subject to change as the season progresses, but these two receivers will be hard to knock off the list.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on how Waddle and Smith perform in the 2020 season, as well as where they stand on the watch list for the Biletnikoff award!

Oklahoma receiver Charleston Rambo named to Biletnikoff Preseason watch list

Oklahoma receiver Charleston Rambo was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list on Thursday.

Oklahoma receiver Charleston Rambo was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list on Thursday. 

The Biletnikoff is annually given to the best receiver in college football, and Oklahoma has had its fair share of Finalists.

After playing in just five games his freshman season, Rambo emerged as a weapon for Lincoln Riley’s offense in his sophomore campaign. He played in 14 games, and finished as the Sooners’ second leading receiver behind 2019 Biletnikoff Finalist CeeDee Lamb.

The junior posted 758 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season. He snagged 43 receptions, and averaged 16.8 yards per catch.

The last Oklahoma receiver to win the award was Dede Westbrook in 2016. 

Rambo was also named to the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 football team.

Oklahoma is currently schedule to begin their season on September 5 against Missouri State, but could be looking to move that date up in order to test for coronavirus between games.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

2 USC wide receivers named to Biletnikoff Award watch list

Trojans Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown were named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, awarded to the nation’s best receiver.

The USC Trojans are continuing to stuff the preseason award watch lists. Following in the footsteps of quarterback Kedon Slovis (Davey O’Brien) and running backs Stephen Carr and Vavae Malepeai (Doak Walker), USC receivers Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown were each added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

The Biletnikoff Award is given each year to the nation’s best wide receiver.

Vaughns has had an outstanding collegiate career with the Trojans, racking up 189 receptions for 2,395 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 189 receptions is ninth in school history, while the 2,395 yards is 14th.

A strong season in 2020, with every game played, could easily land Vaughns among the top-3 in school history in both categories.

St. Brown is entering his junior year coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign, where he racked up 77 receptions for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns. He will look to follow in the footsteps of Michael Pittman, Jr. by heading to the NFL after his junior season.

The Biletnikoff Award has been won by a USC receiver just once: Marqise Lee back in 2012.

[lawrence-related id=9183]

8 Seahawks among nominees for College Football Hall of Fame

Ken Norton, Jr. and a bevy of Seahawks, including Steve Hutchinson and Bobby Engram, are eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 have been announced, with 99 Division 1 football players – including seven former Seattle Seahawks and one current coach – all on the ballot.

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr., who played his college ball at UCLA, is on the ballot, along with seven former Seattle players: receiver Bobby Engram, defensive end Dwight Freeney, guard Robert Gallery, receiver Mike Hass, guard Steve Hutchinson, kicker Sebastian Janikowski and running back C.J. Spiller.

Engram starred for the Seahawks from 2001-2008, hauling in 399 receptions for 4,859 yards and 18 touchdowns, making him among the most prolific receivers in franchise history. He played his college ball at Penn State and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 1994.

Freeney was a seven time Pro Bowl defensive end who finished his prolific NFL career with 125.5 career sacks, good for 18th all time. He finished his career with the Seahawks in 2017, appearing in four games and totaling three sacks and a pass defended. He starred at Syracuse and remains the NCAA leader in sacks per game, at 1.61.

Gallery concluded his eight-year NFL career by starting 12 games at left guard for the Seahawks in 2011. While at Iowa, Gallery was a first team All-American and winner of the Outland Trophy in 2003, awarded to the nation’s best interior offensive lineman.

Despite winning the Biletnikoff Award in 2005 as a member of the Oregon State Beavers, Hass only appeared in two games in his NFL career. One of them was with the Seahawks in 2009.

Hutchinson is already a Pro Football Hall of Famer, having gained induction in 2020. He starred at left guard for the Seahawks from 2001-2005, making three Pro Bowls in that time. He was an excellent guard in college at Michigan as well, earning All-American honors in 2000.

Perhaps the only time a first round kicker has paid off, the Raiders selected Janikowski in 2000 and he went on to kick for them for nearly two decades, finishing his career with the Seahawks in 2018. He was a two-time All-American and the only ever two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best kicker, while at Florida State.

Finally, Spiller appeared in two games for the Seahawks in 2016, carrying the ball three times and hauling in five receptions for a touchdown. Spiller was a star running back and kick returner at Clemson, and his 7,588 all-purpose yards is fourth in NCAA history.

In order to be eligible, a player must have been a first team All-American and have been done playing college football for 10 full seasons.

The ballot has been sent to the National Football Foundation (NFF) board, who will deliberate and eventually announce the new inductees in early 2021.

[lawrence-related id=64222]

100 Days Until Notre Dame Football (We Hope)

The countdown to Notre Dame football returning is on. Join us as we celebrating being within 100 days of Irish football returning! (we hope)

The countdown is on!

100 days from now (we hope) Notre Dame will return to the football field for Season 133 when the Irish take on Navy in a Week Zero affair.  Will the game be played as scheduled?  I’m guessing not in Ireland but perhaps with the way the news has gone this week we’ll see it get underway on time.

Each day from now until Notre Dame kicks off the year we’ll count down the days with the number and why it’s significant in the history of Notre Dame football.

Now we could take the easy route and start with perhaps the most-known 100 in Notre Dame football, that being Lou Holtz’s career win total as the Irish head coach.  Instead, we’ll go a little more obscure but still plenty impressive with our first entry.

100:  Michael Floyd’s total receptions during the 2011 season, the most ever by a Notre Dame player in a single season.  

Golden Tate’s 93 receptions in his Biletnikoff Award winning season of 2009 are the second most while Floyd’s 79 in 2010 and Jeff Samardzija’s 78 and 77 receptions in 2006 and 2005 round out Notre Dame’s single-season top-five.

100 days to go!!!

We really, really hope.

How Georgia football’s defense can limit LSU QB Joe Burrow

UGA’s defense allows 10.4 PPG. It’s the best defense LSU has seen all year. The Tigers’ offense is the best the Dawgs will face in 2019.

Georgia’s defense is giving up 10.4 points per game and is by all metrics the best defense LSU has played all year. The Tigers’ offense is the best that the Dawgs have faced in 2019 and is led by Joe Burrow, who will likely have his name inscribed onto the Heisman Trophy in a few short weeks.

Burrow has completed an insane 314 of his 401 passing attempts (78.3%), has thrown an even more insane 44 touchdowns, and has amassed 4366 passing yards, enough to make him the SEC record holder for passing yards in a single season.

Those numbers are staggering and present a daunting task for the Silver Britches. But if any unit can possibly limit Joe Burrow, it’s the Bulldogs’ smothering defense.

The Tigers’ quarterback is poised and methodical with an ability to scramble outside the pocket the extend plays. He keeps his eyes downfield and has the speed to roll out and tuck the ball for quick gains to the sideline.

For the Junkyard Dawgs to diminish Burrow’s prowess, they need to keep him in the pocket. Rushing three men while dropping eight, including a spy linebacker eyeing the quarterback, keeps Georgia’s defense in a man free alignment that can negate big plays and contain Louisiana State’s explosive offense.

In 2019, several SEC West teams have used this formation in attempt to confuse Burrow to no avail, but Georgia’s speedy and physical defense possesses better athletes than any defensive group the Tigers have seen thus far, save for Alabama (which is debatable).

All of this is much easier said than done against a team with the Southeastern Conference’s best performing signal caller and an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position, which includes Biletnikoff Award finalists Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. If Georgia’s secondary can maintain man coverage downfield while the front seven can keeping a spy on Burrow, they can hand LSU their first loss of the year.

How Do You Build the All-Time Greatest Notre Dame Receiver?

I’ve only been contributing to the Irish Wire for a short time, but in that time, I feel like I’ve used it as a forum to serve as President of Chase Claypool’s fan club. And guess what? I’m ok with that! But during the course of our frequent …

I’ve only been contributing to the Irish Wire for a short time, but in that time, I feel like I’ve used it as a forum to serve as President of Chase Claypool’s fan club. And guess what? I’m ok with that!

But during the course of our frequent exchange of e-mails and direct messages, Irish Wire Grand Poobah Nick Shepkowski brought up the idea for the following: How would you build your perfect Notre Dame wide receiver?  He says it was because of something Golden Tate tweeted in regards to Claypool earlier this week.

Me, being the sucker for any article idea with historical context, started mapping out my ultimate pass-catcher. A few rules before we get started on my list. First, each player can only be used once for the various characteristics. Of course some of these guys could be on there for various things, but we’re trying to spread the love. Next, my own historical reference dates back to right around 1990. Sorry Tim Brown, Tom Gatewood and Jack Snow fans. Finally, this is my list. I’m not going to pretend like I know everything. I welcome the debate. Now, on with the construction.

We start with my most important trait for a wide receiver. 

First up: Best Hands

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13