Northwestern University Athletics
Austin Carr Named Finalist for 2016 Biletnikoff Award
11/21/2016 4:05:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern senior wide receiver Austin Carr has been named one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the outstanding receiver in college football by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
Carr, Oklahoma's Dede Westbrook and East Carolina's Zay Jones were selected in voting by the 530 members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee in a year of an exceptional profusion of superb receivers and in the heaviest vote in the history of the award.
The Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee's voting to determine the winner commences December 1 and ends December 4.
A former walk-on and finalist for the 2016 Burlsworth Trophy as well, Carr has been among the nation's leaders in receiving all season long. He leads the Big Ten in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,170) and touchdowns (12) entering the final week of the season. He ranks in the top-10 nationally in all three categories, including sixth in FBS in touchdowns. He is the first player in Northwestern history to be named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
He is on pace to become just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, joining Penn State's Allen Robinson (2012) and Michigan's Desmond Howard (1990).
Below is a list of Carr's accomplishments in 2016 thus far:
• Leads the Big Ten in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,170) and touchdowns (12)
• Six 100-yard receiving games. (Career-high 158 at Ohio State on Oct. 29)
• Three multi-touchdown games (Career-high 3 at Iowa on Oct. 1)
• Averaging 7.8 catches and 110.9 receiving yards per game in Big Ten play
• Only receiver in the country with at least five catches and 68 yards receiving in every game
• Tied the Northwestern single-season touchdown reception record with 12
• Ranks third in NU single-season history in receiving yards and receptions
• The difference between Carr (80 rec.) and the Big Ten's No. 2 pass catcher (61 rec.) is the same gap between No. 2 and No. 9
• The difference between Carr (1,170 yards) and the Big Ten's No. 2 in receiving yards (873) is greater than the gap between No. 2 and No. 13
• The difference between Carr (12 touchdowns) and the Big Ten's No. 2 in touchdown grabs (9) is the same as between No. 2 and No. 6
• Rated the No. 1 slot receiver in college football by Pro Football Focus
• Rated the No. 2 wide receiver overall by Pro Football Focus
The 2016 Biletnikoff Award will be presented live on December 8, 2016, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast 6-8pm (CT) on ESPN. College Football Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard will present the 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner on the show.
Biletnikoff Award Banquet
The 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented his trophy before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, February 18, 2017. 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."
The banquet has featured distinguished keynoters of profound character and accomplishments including Bart Starr, Dick Vermeil, Larry Csonka, Steve Largent, Mike Ditka, Don Shula, Dan Reeves, Archie Manning, Ron Jaworski, Gene Stallings, Bill Curry, Jim Kelly, Jerry Kramer, Joe Theismann and Dan Fouts.
FanVote and FanForum
Recently, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation opened the 2016 FanVote and FanForum. Every fan may vote once daily on the Biletnikoff Award FanVote page. The aggregate fan tally will be counted as one official vote to determine semi-finalists (ten receivers), finalists (three), and the winner. In the closest contest in years, the FanVote tally provided the one-vote margin of victory for 2013 winner Brandin Cooks of Oregon State. The Biletnikoff Award FanForum consists of fan-created discussion topics that allow sports fans to voice their opinions.
To access the Biletnikoff Award FanVote, go to http://biletnikoffaward.com/fan-vote.
To access the Biletnikoff Award FanForum Discussion Board, go to http://www.biletnikoffaward.com/forum
Fred Biletnikoff
The name Biletnikoff is synonymous with the term receiver. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was an All-America receiver at Florida State University, and an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI. The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation (TQC), Inc., created the Biletnikoff Award in 1994.
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