2020 Preseason Award Projections: Biletnikoff Award

By Charlie Campbell
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Heading into the 2020 college football season WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises and the stars of next fall could be the headlining players next April in the 2021 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.

The Biletnikoff Award is given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. The Biletnikoff Award’s committee states, “Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award.” All that being said, the award always goes to a wide receiver. Last year’s winner was LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase.

Biletnikoff Award Winner:

Chris Olave, Ohio State

The Biletnikoff has not had a repeat winner since Justin Blackmon did it at Oklahoma State in 2010-11. Thus, the odds are against Ja’Marr Chase doing it again. Additionally, Olave is working with a new quarterback and LSU lost a lot of other passing weapons, so teams are going to send a ton of extra coverage toward Chase. Thus, I’m not going to pick Chase to buck the trend and win the Biletnikoff again.

In speaking to a general manager prior to the 2020 Senior Bowl, we talked about some of the receivers at Ohio State, and he said while the program had some guys for Day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, the one who really impressed them was Olave. Teams were watching the draft-eligible wide outs, but Olave was so good, he jumped off the screen. Olave was a big-time point producer in 2019 and looked like he was just getting started with his total of 849 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 49 receptions.

Olave has a number of easy opponents in 2020, plus Ohio State runs up the score on a lot of weak Big Ten competition. The Buckeyes also take on a less-than imposing group of secondaries, so that should lead to Olave producing plenty of highlight-reel plays while beating up on weak competition. He has talent around him with other receivers and running backs who make it harder for teams to send lots of extra attention his direction. And most important of all, Olave has an excellent quarterback in Justin Fields who can get him the ball. The 2020 season could be a prolific year for Olave that lands him lots of awards and puts him as a top contender to win the Biletnikoff Award.




Biletnikoff Runner-Up:

DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Smith went under the radar playing with Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, but he is a good prospect in his own right. Team sources said that of the trio of Alabama receiver prospects who were eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft, Smith could have the best hands and was the most consistent down-in-and-down-out. Even with the ball being spread to Jeudy, Ruggs, Smith and Jaylen Waddle, Smith managed to produce well in 2019. He totaled 68 receptions for 1,256 yards with 14 touchdowns. He put together a record-setting game of 11 receptions for 274 yards with five touchdowns against Ole Miss.

Smith is a tough receiver who has demonstrated quality speed, route-running, and superb ball skills. He also has proven run-after-the-catch skills and is able to get yards after contact and dodge defenders. Smith is superb with his body control along the sideline to adjust to passes and stay in bounds as a runner. With Jeudy and Ruggs in the NFL, Smith could be the No. 1 receiver for Alabama and produce a huge year that lands him a lot of postseason awards, and I would expect him to be a top contender for the Biletnikoff Award.




Biletnikoff Dark Horse:

T.J. Vasher, Texas Tech

The Biletnikoff Award has gone to a number of Big XII receivers in recent years, which is not shocking considering the conference plays weak defense and features a lot of passing-driven offenses. Vasher has the skill set to be a breakout star in 2020, and team sources are already intrigued with him. Scouts say that Vasher jumped out at them last year with a style of play that is similar to Bengals star A.J. Green. Vasher (6-6, 210) has excellent height, and scouts say he plays fast for his size. While he is not a burner, given his length and size, he has very good speed and quickness. Evaluators say he has outstanding to exceptional hands, superb ball adjustment, and is decent running after the catch. It wouldn’t shock me if Vasher produces a huge year and wins some postseason honors.

Honorable Mentions: LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle, Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace, Auburn’s Seth Williams, Florida State’s Tamorrion Terry, Purdue’s Rondale Moore, USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace, Houston’s Marquez Stevenson and Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman.











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