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ESPN releases Top 3 finalists for Biletnikoff, Jim Thorpe awards

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•11/23/21•

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Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

As the college football season begins to wind down, ESPN released the finalists for its College Football Awards Tuesday. Among the announcements were the top three contenders for the Biletnikoff Award and Jim Thorpe Award.

The Biletnikoff Award honors the top receiver of the year and the Jim Thorpe Award goes to the best defensive back in the country.

Here are the finalists for both honors.

Biletnikoff Award finalists

Jordan Addison — Pittsburgh

Jordan Addison leads the FBS with 15 touchdown catches for Pittsburgh this season. He also averages 115.6 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the country, to help the Panthers to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the ACC title game.

David Bell — Purdue

David Bell is fourth in the nation with 120.7 yards per game and third with 8.7 receptions per game. His two biggest games came against top-5 opponents in Michigan State and Iowa. In those games, Bell combined for 457 yards and two touchdowns to lead Purdue to upset victories.

Jameson Willams — Alabama

Jameson Williams is second only to Addison with 14 touchdown receptions this season while averaging 110.7 yards per game. He’s one of Bryce Young’s primary targets in Nick Saban’s offense, which wraps up the regular season this week in the Iron Bowl.

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Jim Thorpe Award finalists

Coby Bryant — Cincinnati

Coby Bryant is having a solid season for Cincinnati and is tied for sixth in the country in passes defended. The Bearcats are 11-0 this year, but still sit outside the top four of the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

Verone McKinley III — Oregon

Verone McKinley III is one of the top pass defenders in the country and is tied for the national lead with five interceptions. He also has 35 solo tackles to his name for the Ducks, who are 9-2 on the season.

Jalen Pitre — Baylor

Jalen Pitre is an essential part of the Baylor defense. He has two sacks and two forced fumbles to his name for the Bears, who are 9-2 overall this year. His biggest game came against BYU last month when he had 10 total tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery as Baylor won 38-24.

ESPN will announce the winners for the College Football Awards on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET.