Fresno State Athletics
Biletnikoff Award selects Cropper
7/21/2022 7:05:00 AM | Football
Wide receiver Jalen Cropper has been named to the 2022 preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Fresno State senior wide receiver Jalen Cropper has been named to the 2022 preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced on Thursday morning. Cropper is the only representative from the Mountain West to be named to the preseason watch list.
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. Cropper was a mid-season addition to the award's watch list last season.
Cropper finished the 2021 season as the Bulldogs' leading receiver with 85 receptions for 899 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 76 yards rushing and two additional touchdowns on 19 carries. In 2021, Cropper ranked No. 16 in receiving touchdowns, No. 18 in receptions per game, No. 37 in total touchdowns, No. 50 in receiving yards and No. 56 in receiving yards per game in the FBS.
The Parlier, Calif. native had back-to-back performances that found themselves in the record book last season. First, putting up a season-best 141 yards receiving at then-No. 13 UCLA, leading Fresno State to its 40-37 win and scoring the game-winning touchdown with 14 seconds left in the game. Cropper had 141 yards on 14 catches at the Rose Bowl. His 14 receptions tie for the fourth-most in a game in program history.
A week after the dramatic win at UCLA, Cropper went on to tie the program and Mountain West single game record with four receiving touchdowns scored against UNLV, a mark that led the country through the season.
In three seasons (29 career games) at Fresno State, Cropper has accumulated 1,615 yards receiving and 16 receiving touchdowns on 137 catches.
Thursday's announcement is another addition of preseason recognitions for Cropper, adding to the list of Shrine Bowl 1000, first team All-Mountain West (Phil Steele and Athlon Sports).
The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman Mark Ryan and the banquet keynote speaker at the black-tie BiletnikoffAward Banquet & Celebration at the Dunlap Champions Club, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 4, 2023. 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."
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