Receiver Hansen on Biletnikoff list
It took only three weeks of leading the nation in receiving, but Cal junior wide receiver Chad Hansen was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list Tuesday.
Hansen tops the nation in catches (40) and receiving yards (546) and is tied for first in receiving touchdowns (five). He is believed to be the first Cal player to ever record three consecutive games of at least 10 catches and 100 yards, and his 546-yard total through three games is 103 more than his closest competitor.
“He’s versatile enough to line up and run past people, but he’s also big enough to play physically and smart enough to use his savvy, release techniques and set people up,” Cal head coach Sonny Dykes said. “At the end of the day, what he is, is he’s dependable.”
The award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, the Raiders’ Hall of Fame receiver, and is given annually to the country’s top receiver. The winner will be announced Dec. 8. Been there before: Whenever running back Vic Enwere burst through the line for a touchdown during Tuesday’s practice, he purposely flipped the ball to a coach acting as an official. Point made. Cal coaches addressed Enwere’s gaffe of fumbling a sure touchdown at the 1-yard line Saturday against Texas and then held him accountable in front of the entire team Sunday.
The play didn’t end up costing the Bears, who were awarded the ball at the 1-yard line because no Texas players immediately tried to recover the ball, but Cal wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“We’ll hand the ball to the official. We’ll even allow them to toss it to them,” Dykes said. “I think that probably makes the most sense, anyway.
“We haven’t had an issue with it. We’re not an end-zonedance team. We’re not that kind of program, so it’s not something we’ve really had to address in the past.”
“At the end of the day, what he is, is he’s dependable.” Sonny Dykes, Cal head coach, on receiver Chad Hansen