University of North Carolina Athletics
Boyd, Highsmith Tabbed For Biletnikoff List
July 17, 2012 | Football
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, has released the 2012 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, and North Carolina seniors Jheranie Boyd and Erik Highsmith are among the candidates. The award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football.
Boyd, a 6-2 speedster from Gastonia, N.C., caught 14 balls for 292 yards and five touchdowns in 2011. He averaged a team-high 20.9 yards per reception and also carried seven times for 56 yards.
Highsmith, a 6-3 standout from Vanceboro, N.C., proved to be a capable second option behind Dwight Jones in 2011, finishing his junior season with 51 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns. He had a career-best eight catches for 77 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown, in the Independence Bowl.
The award recipient is selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of over 180 prominent football journalists, commentators, and receivers. The 2012 winner will be presented live on Dec. 6, 2012, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 12, 2012, following the vote by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 19, 2012. For complete details and updates of interest, together with weekly statistics and news of the Biletnikoff Award candidates, please consult the Foundation website at www.biletnikoffaward.com.
The name Biletnikoff is synonymous with the term receiver. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was an All-Pro receiver with the Oakland Raiders and an All-America receiver at Florida State University. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. created the Biletnikoff Award in 1994. Sixteen college receivers have won the award, including Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Michael Crabtree, and Larry Fitzgerald. Foundation Selection Committee Chairman Ritchie Pickron noted, "The 2012 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List contains one of the most talented fields in recent memory. We are expecting an extremely competitive contest among the receivers to win the Biletnikoff Award."
2012 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List
(listed in alphabetical order)
Player School Year
Jared Abbrederis Wisconsin JR
Keenan Allen California JR
Tavon Austin West Virginia SR
Stedman Bailey West Virgina JR
Emory Blake Auburn SR
Josh Boyce TCU JR
Jheranie Boyd North Carolina SR
Corey Brown Ohio State JR
Dan Buckner Arizona SR
Michael Campanaro Wake Forest JR
DeVonte Christopher Utah SR
Keenan Davis Iowa SR
Marcus Davis Virgina Tech SR
Mike Davis Texas JR
Andre Debose Florida JR
Aaron Dobson Marshall SR
Noel Grigsby San Jose State JR
Cobi Hamilton Arkansas SR
Nick Harwell Miami (Ohio) JR
Willie Haulstead Florida State JR
Erik Highsmith North Carolina SR
Cody Hoffman BYU JR
DeAndre Hopkins Clemson JR
Justin Hunter Tennessee JR
Allen Hurns Miami (FL) JR
Darius Johnson SMU SR
TJ Jones Notre Dame JR
Tavarres King Georgia SR
Alec Lemon Syracuse SR
Colin Lockett San Diego State JR
Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt JR
Matt Miller Boise State SO
TJ Moe Missouri SR
Uzoma Nwachukwu Texas A&M SR
Quinton Patton Louisiana Tech SR
Tevin Reese Baylor JR
Da'Rick Rogers Tennessee JR
Roy Roundtree Michigan SR
Mike Shanahan Pittsburgh SR
Kenny Stills Oklahoma JR
Devin Street Pittsburgh JR
Ryan Swope Texas A&M SR
Conner Vernon Duke SR
Eric Ward Texas Tech JR
Markus Wheaton Oregon State SR
Terrance Williams Baylor SR
Marquess Wilson Washington State JR
Robert Woods USC JR
