Preseason awards season continues with this year’s Biletnikoff Award watchlist. Last year, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison, Jr. took home the award. This year, six Big Ten pass-catchers landed on the watchlist.
The Biletnikoff Award, while usually given to a wide receiver, is not exclusive to the position. It can go to any pass-catching player. This year’s list included two tight ends and one two-way player among the crowd of wide receivers.
Last week, the Maxwell Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy, Ray Gay Award, and Lou Groza Awards were all previewed. This week, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and Doak Walker Award watchlist have already dropped.
Six Big Ten Players Honored by Biletnikoff Award Watchlist
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
In addition to landing on the Walter Camp Award, Paul Hornung Award, and Maxwell Award shortlists, Emeke Egbuka is on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist. Egbuka is a fourth-year receiver who was hamstrung by injuries a year ago. After a 41-catch, 515-yard campaign with four touchdowns in 2023, he is expected to return to his 2022 form. That year, in his first season as a starter in the Ohio State offense, Egbuka hauled in 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
With another strong season, Egbuka can break a long-standing career receiving yards program record. He’s the only receiver at Ohio State entering this year with significant experience. He will be expected to lead the way as the young playmakers behind him get acclimated.
Daniel Jackson, Minnesota
Daniel Jackson has been getting better and better each year. Over his four seasons with the Golden Gophers, Jackson has played in 42 games, making him one of the most experienced Big Ten receivers as a whole. In his first two seasons, Jackson eased his way into the rotation. He accounted for 434 yards and a touchdown off 37 receptions.
He took a sizable step forward in 2022 and led the Gophers with 557 yards and five touchdowns from 37 receptions. Then, this past season, he was the first option for Minnesota. He led the way with 59 catches, 831 yards, and eight touchdowns, all marking new career bests. He’s projected to finally go over 1,000 yards in 2024.
Tez Johnson, Oregon
After losing Troy Franklin to the NFL, the Ducks’ top target should be Tez Johnson, the fifth-year playmaking receiver. As the number-two receiver a year ago, Johnson broke out to the tune of 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns. He set the Oregon program record with 86 receptions. Before that, he spent three years at Troy and amassed 1,809 yards and eight scores.
Thus far in his career, Johnson has seven games with over 100 yards. Last year alone, he had four, including a career-best 180 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Cal. Oregon got a taste of what he can do as the leading receiver in the Fiesta Bowl as he finished with 172 yards and a score off 11 receptions.
Colston Loveland, Michigan
One of just two tight ends on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist, Colston Loveland is expected to have a massive year for the Wolverines. Heading into 2024, Loveland is considered to be among the nation’s best at the position and will likely be the top tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft
In his freshman season, Loveland gave Michigan a taste with 235 yards and two scores off 16 receptions. He appeared in all 14 games for the Wolverines in 2022, making it obvious great things were to come. Last year, he broke out as more of a receiving threat. He appeared in all 15 games and recorded at least one catch in each. In total, Loveland amassed 649 yards and four touchdowns with 45 catches for the Wolverines.
Will Pauling, Wisconsin
After two years at Cincinnati, Will Pauling followed his head coach to Wisconsin for the 2023 season. In those two seasons with the Bearcats, Pauling only accounted for 128 yards off 13 receptions. However, in his first season with the Badgers, he broke out and was the leading receiver…and it wasn’t close.
Pauling finished with 74 catches (32 more than the next), 837 yards (357 more than the next), and six touchdowns (43% of all receiving touchdowns). As Wisconsin eases into the new more spread offense, Pauling is set to take another step forward in 2024.
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Finally, another receiver who followed his head coach, Elijah Sarratt was a standout receiver for James Madison. Before that, he was an FCS Freshman All-American at St. Francis (PA).
At St. Francis, Sarratt started four games, appeared in eight others, and amassed an impressive 700 yards and 13 touchdowns off 42 receptions. He then made the jump to James Madison, last year’s surprise of the college football season. With the Dukes, Sarratt led the way with another 1,000-yard receiver. In total, the new Hoosier logged 1,191 yards and eight touchdowns off 82 receptions.
