Pair of WKU wide receivers named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

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WKU’s wide receiver Taywan Taylor (2) rushes the ball past Southern Mississippi University defensive back Picasso Nelson Jr. (13), defensive back Cornell Armstrong (3), and wide receiver Jarell Aaron (12) during the Conference USA football Championship game between WKU and Southern Mississippi University on Saturday Dec. 5 at L. T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky. Shaban Athuman/HERALD

John Reecer
July 13, 2016

Rising senior wide receivers Nicholas Norris and Taywan Taylor were named to the 2016 Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Wednesday by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

The Biletnikoff award is given annually to college football’s most outstanding receiver at any position.

Norris and Taylor are two of 53 players recognized on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and give WKU two of Conference-USA’s seven representatives on the preseason watch list.

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The Hilltoppers are one of only four non-power five teams to feature multiple players on the 53-man watch list. Taylor was a semifinalist for the honor last season.

The 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 8, 2016, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. College Football Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard will present the 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner on the show.

Norris assumed a larger role in the Hilltopper offense as a true junior and responded with his best year on The Hill, tallying 971 yards on 63 receptions and six touchdowns to go along with six rushes for 63 yards and a touchdown.

His 971 yards were the third-most in a single season at WKU, while his 63 receptions were seventh-most. He had three 100-yard receiving performances, including 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Miami Beach Bowl.

Taylor had the single greatest season by a wide receiver in Hilltopper Football history in 2015, becoming just the second 1,000-yard receiver in program history and setting single-season records for receiving yards (1,467), receptions (86) and touchdown catches (17).

He also set the career record for receiving yards (2,504), 100-yard receiving games (9) and touchdown catches (24). He was a consensus All-C-USA first teamer and was named a Second Team All-American by ProFootballFocus.com.

The duo pushes WKU’s watch list honorees to five, joining Max Halpin (Rimington) and Forrest Lamp (Outland). Taylor has also been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List this season. More watch list announcements will be made later this week.