Buckeyes elite receiver duo makes preseason Biletnikoff watch list
COLUMBUS — Surprise, surprise. The duo of elite pass-catchers Ohio State has returning to the starting lineup are on the preseason watch list for another award.
This time, it’s the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top receiver in the country. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, the pair of superstar junior wide receivers for the Buckeyes, are each on the watch list for that award, and they’re among the preseason favorites to win it.
Both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka were already named to the prestigious Maxwell Award watch list last week.
Both receivers have been gaining traction as the top wide receiver duo in college football for the entire offseason. Harrison was a first-team All-American last year after catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. Egbuka wasn’t far behind him, catching 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. Together they formed one of the top tandems in the country.
Harrison finished second in the Biletnikoff Award voting last season despite being widely known as the best receiver in college football throughout the year. He finished runner-up to Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, who is now in the NFL. Egbuka wasn’t considered by as many folks to be up for the award last fall despite posting his incredible numbers.
Both are now among the preseason favorites to win it, however.
Buckeyes on preseason watch lists
A trio of Buckeyes stars earned a spot on that preseason Outland Trophy list last week, two on offense and one on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State is one of five schools with three players on the list. Michigan has four. A total of 11 players from the Big Ten are on the preseason list.
Both of the returning offensive linemen for Ohio State, sixth-year senior guard Matthew Jones and third-year guard Donovan Jackson, are on the preseason list for that award. As is third-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.
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Ryan Day was named to the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Trophy preseason watch list earlier this offseason. The Dodd Trophy has been awarded to the top coach in college football every year since 1976.
Only one Ohio State coach has ever won the prestigious coaching honor. Jim Tressel won it in 2002 when the Buckeyes beat Miami (Florida) for the national title.
Day is one of five Big Ten coaches on the watch list.
Then there’s Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, who last week was named to the John Mackey Award watch list. The Mackey Award is given annually to the top tight end in all of college football. Stover was a dominant force for the Buckeyes last season as both a reliable run-blocker and a pass-catcher. He hauled in 36 catches for 406 receiving yards, which were the most by a Buckeyes tight end in 28 years.
And who could forget Buckeyes punter Jesse Mirco, who is on the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the top punter in college football.
