Warm reception
OSU’s James Washington won the Biletnikoff Award for being the nation’s best college football receiver this year.
This won’t be the last time a man wearing a nice suit, standing at a podium on an ESPN network, calls the name of Oklahoma State receiver James Washington.
On Thursday, it was college football legend Desmond Howard announcing Washington as the winner of the Biletnikoff Award.
The next time the scene plays out, it will be at the NFL Draft in April.
Washington won the
Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s most outstanding receiver in perhaps the least surprising announcement of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday night in Atlanta.
He became the clear favorite for the award as he outperformed the other Biletnikoff finalists — West Virginia’s David Sills and Colorado State’s Michael Gallup — in three of four major receiving statistical categories.
Washington ranks No. 1 nationally in receiving yards with 1,423 and yards per game at 118.6. He ranks 10th nationally and first among Biletnikoff finalists in yards per reception at 20.6.
Only Sills’ nation-leading 18 touchdowns ranked higher than Washington, who was tied for fourth nationally with 12 TD catches.
For the season, Washington led all FBS players with 17 catches of 30 yards or longer, 10 catches of 40 yards or longer and seven catches of 50 yards or longer.
That last set of stats might be his top selling point when NFL teams come looking at the Cowboy senior, who could’ve gone pro after his junior year. But returning to OSU gave him the opportunity to win the Biletnikoff, and boost his draft stock.
“Most serious downfield threats are smaller-framed receivers,” said Chris Trapasso, the NFL Draft writer for CBS Sports, whose latest mock draft projected Washington being picked No. 5 overall. “Washington is arguably the premier deep-ball specialist in college football, and he’s a well-built 6-foot, 205 pounds.
“Beyond that, he has proven the ability to make catches above his ahead and when cornerbacks are on draped on him. While he’s not the rebounder type, I think NFL teams will like the strength of his hands along with his long speed.”
The Biletnikoff Award wasn’t Washington’s only honor of the day. He was OSU’s only first-team selection on the Walter Camp All-American team.
This was the third time an OSU receiver has won the Biletnikoff Award, with Justin Blackmon winning it in 2010 and 2011.
In his acceptance speech, Washington thanked his family, his coaches and his teammates, particularly his quarterback, Mason Rudolph.
“He’s always there for me when I need him, and when other guys need him, he’s there for them,” Washington said of the OSU quarterback.
Rudolph was in Atlanta as well, as a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback.
Rudolph, too, stands to be a highly valued NFL prospect. Trapasso’s latest mock draft had Rudolph going No. 12 overall and the fourth quarterback taken.
“I think Rudolph’s management inside the pocket is outstanding,” Trapasso said. “There were times in which he held the ball a little too long this season which resulted in sacks, but much more often than not, he maneuvered away from pressure while maintaining a sturdy base from which to throw. After that, his deep-ball touch — when fully healthy — was spectacular.”