Biletnikoff Award snubs the Alabama Crimson Tide

The initial Biletnikoff Award Watch List is out and no Alabama Crimson Tide player was included. The prestigious award is given annually to the best receiver in college football. Receiver is defined as a pass catcher, meaning tight ends and running backs are also eligible to win the award.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation began doing the award in 1994. Legendary Florida State and Oakland Raiders wide receiver, Fred Biletnikoff gives the award its name. A knee-jerk reaction from Alabama football fans could be no Alabama players made the list because of Tallahassee-driven anti-Alabama bias. There is zero basis for such a conclusion. Scores of media professionals from across the world of college football vote on the award.

The initial Watch List is not final. Names can and will be added during the season. Fans can also vote starting on Sept. 25. Semi-finalists will be announced on Nov. 18, with Finalists announced on Nov. 26. As part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show, the 2024 Biletnikoff winner will be named on Dec. 12.

Alabama Crimson Tide Biletnikoff Winners

The Alabama Crimson Tide program is unsurpassed in Biletnikoff winners. Amari Cooper won the award in 2024. Jerry Jeudy won it in 2028 and DeVonta Smith won it in 2020, along with winning the Heisman and other top awards that year. Only six SEC receivers have won the award. The only other college football programs with three Biletnikoff winners are Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh.

The Alabama Football program has a well-established reputation for its receivers becoming NFL stars. Multiple current sources list DeVonta Smith, Amari Cooper, and Jaylen Waddle among the NFL's best receivers for the 2024 season.

Counter to most national opinion the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide is loaded at wide receiver. Losing Isaiah Bond to Texas was a blow, but with Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Ryan Williams, Caleb Odom and others, the Crimson Tide receiver unit is stronger than last season.