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Dante Cephas selected for Biletnikoff Award watch list

nate-mug-10.12.14by:Nate Bauer•08/07/23•

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Wide receiver Dante Cephas (Credit: Steve Manuel | Blue White Illustrated)

Dante Cephas spent the offseason transferring from Kent State to Penn State. For the receiver, newly working through his first week of preseason camp as a Nittany Lion, the change in scenery hasn’t meant a change in expectations.

Monday afternoon, that manifested itself with the announcement of the 2023 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

Recognized as one of the nation’s top receivers with his inclusion in the 2022 edition of the watch list, the Biletnikoff Award again pegged Cephas ahead of the 2023 season. He is one of 49 candidates for this year’s award, as selected by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. According to the organization, “any player who catches a pass is eligible for the award,” thereby also including tight ends and running backs.

Dante Cephas works to make mark at Penn State

Cephas’ inclusion on this year’s Biletnikoff Award Watch List comes in the wake of back-to-back highly productive seasons at Kent State. In each of the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, he finished with All-MAC recognition. That began with 82 catches for 1,240 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior in 2021. And, he followed it last year with 48 catches for 744 yards ver nine games played. In each of the past two seasons, he averaged more than 80 yards receiving and more than 15.1 yards per reception.

Now at Penn State, however, Cephas is handling the duality of his mature presence in the receivers room while also being new to the program. As explained by head coach James Franklin during the program’s preseason media day on Sunday afternoon, Cephas has made progress already through his first months on campus, but still has more to make.

“He’s done some really good things. He’s gotten bigger. he’s gotten stronger. The guys have got a ton of respect for him. He’s shown flashes,” Franklin said. “I do think there’s an adjustment period that he’s going through. Because it’s one thing to do it two or three times a season when you’re watching him play an opponent like Georgia. It’s another thing to do it week-in and week- out in the Big Ten. And I think it’s another thing to do it every day at practice. I think he’s really embraced that, and I think he recognizes it’s going to bring out the best in him as well.”

At present, Cephas is battling with rising sophomore Omari Evans for the third starting receiver spot. KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Trey Wallace are currently penciled in as starters for the other two receiving jobs.

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