Biletnikoff Award adds Cropper

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Fresno State junior wide receiver Jalen Cropper has been added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, sponsored by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the organization announced Wednesday morning.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.

Wednesday's announcement is the first set of additions to the initial preseason watch list for the award. Cropper is one of eight mid-season adds. The Biletnikoff Award is the first award to add Cropper to its watch list in his career.

Cropper is one of eight mid-season additions, joining Josh Downs (North Carolina), Dontario Drummond (Ole Miss), Nick Mardner (Hawaii), Trey McBride (Colorado State), Wan'Dale Robinson (Kentucky), Deven Thompkins (Utah State), and Dontayvion Wicks (Virginia).

An award that recognizes actual, and not potential, performance on the football field, the Biletnikoff Award adds Cropper to its watch list after he has registered 455 yards receiving on 39 catches. He has scored eight touchdowns on the season.

The junior Bulldog wide receiver currently leads the FBS in receiving touchdowns, is second in total points scored and total touchdowns, seventh in receptions per game, and is eighth in receiving yards.

Cropper has had a record-setting season through the first five games of the year, tying the Mountain West and program record for most touchdown catches in a game with four against UNLV last weekend. Cropper became just the third Bulldog to have multiple three-plus touchdown games in a career, joining Davante Adams and KeeSean Johnson.

Cropper has scored a touchdown in six-straight games, the first time a Bulldog receiver has had a touchdown in at least six consecutive games since Davante Adams. Adams holds the record with nine-straight games with a receiving touchdown.

Cropper becomes the first Bulldog since tight end Jared Rice (2019) to earn a spot on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. A year prior, wide receiver KeeSean Johnson was recognized by the organization. Davante Adams earned the best finish by a Bulldog in the running for the award as he was a semifinalist in 2013.

Semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 22. The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman Roger Champion, keynoter and college hall of famer and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and college and pro football hall of famer Fred Biletnikoff at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet & Celebration at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The banquet was hailed by 2014 keynote speaker Dick Vermeil, as well as by 2013 keynoter Larry Csonka, as "the best banquet in college sports."

For more information on the Biletnikoff Award, click here.

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Biletnikoff Award adds Cropper

Players Mentioned

Jalen Moreno-Cropper

Fresno State Athletics