Downs Added To Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Tallahassee, Fla. – Sophomore wide receiver Josh Downs has been added to the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, announced Wednesday by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

Downs has enjoyed a prolific start to his second season in Chapel Hill. He leads North Carolina and ranks second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 32 receptions, 452 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. All three figures rank in the top 10 nationally.

Playing primarily from the slot, Downs is third in the country with 21 first downs and 273 yards after catch. He is the first Carolina player since 1979 to catch a touchdown in each of the first four games of a season.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.

The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.

The Biletnikoff Award candidate eligibility and voting criteria, transparently explicit and detailed, are available for review at BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria.

Recently, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation opened the 2021 FanVote. Every fan may vote once daily on the Biletnikoff Award FanVote page. The aggregate fan tally will be counted as one official vote to determine semi-finalists (ten receivers), finalists (three receivers), and the winner. In the closest contest in years, the FanVote tally provided the one-vote margin of victory for 2013 winner Brandin Cooks of Oregon State.

Players Mentioned

Josh Downs

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