Top 3 players in close race for the coveted Biletnikoff Award in 2024 ft. Travis Hunter
Award season is arriving soon in college football and top pass catchers are battling for the Biletnikoff Award. Named after former Florida State/LA Raider star Fred Biletnikoff, the award honors the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Tight ends or running backs are also eligible, but 2024 has a group of outstanding receivers who could claim the nod. Here's the three best.
Top 3 players in race for Biletnikoff Award in 2024
3. Nick Nash, San Jose State
This spot could have gone to Arizona's outstanding 6-foot-5 target Tetairoa McMillan, but his team is 3-6 and has lost its last five games. It would feel odd to pick a guy off a losing team, even for what is an individual award.
Besides, Nash has better numbers. A 6-foot-3 senior, Nash was a quarterback as a freshman at San Jose State. Oh, times have changed!
This year, Nash has 86 catches (tops in the nation) for 1,156 yards (second in the nation) and 13 touchdowns (tops in the nation).
Nash has caught at least one touchdown in every game, hasn't come in under 75 yards all year, and has four 150+ yard games. Nobody knows who he is, but that's not his fault. Statistically speaking, he's the best receiver in the nation.
2. Xavier Restrepo, Miami
Restrepo, a junior at Miami, has the best argument of significance and quality play. He's led Miami into a good position to claim a CFP berth and has been consistently strong on the field. With 55 catches for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns, Restrepo leads the ACC in yards and TDs and is second in catches.
Restrepo has put together five 100+ yard receiving games and has been the primary target for Heisman candidate Cam Ward. Again, there are receivers (like Nash) who can boast bigger numbers, but nobody has been better in the pressure cooker of the playoff hunt than Restrepo.
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
The most exciting and hyped player in the nation, Hunter can't help but be in the Biletnikoff conversation. He's helped Colorado be nationally relevant, and even though the Buffaloes are still a bit of a long shot for the CFP, Hunter has delivered consistently.
For the year, the Colorado star has delivered 69 receptions for 856 yards and nine touchdowns. Hunter has five 100+ yard games (and a 99-yard game as well). In the last two games, he has 18 catches for 252 yards and three scores. Sounds like he's peaking at just the right time.
More than numbers and catching fire, Hunter has the gift for the dramatic. After all, he's playing for Coach Prime. Of the three candidates, he's the most likely to do something amazing in the season to come to swing the race late. That has to count for something extra.
Which player would you pick for the Biletnikoff Award? Drop in your picks below in the comments section!