Gallup’s top performances
When Michael Gallup was notified last month that he was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top pass catcher, the senior Colorado State receiver was initially caught off guard.
“I could really care less if I won it or not. I’m just trying to go down there (to Atlanta for the awards show) to see what it’s like,” Gallup said. “Of course, everybody would prefer to win it, but it’s not very likely, and I’ve already understood that process. … I go to a Mountain West school. People don’t give us the time of day. It’s cool. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
While it’s true that a Group of Five receiver has not won the award since 1998 (Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech), CSU can now claim two Biletnikoff finalists over the past four years, with Gallup joining Rashard Higgins (2014). And there is reason to believe Gallup has a shot to win it against a pair of lethal Big 12 receivers in Oklahoma State’s James Washington and West Virginia’s David Sills.
The winner will be announced during ESPN’s broadcast of “The College Football Awards Show” starting at 5 p.m. Thursday.
To fully appreciate Gallup, here is a look back at his top-five career performances wearing the greenand-gold over the past two seasons.
5. Nov. 12, 2016, at Air Force — 13 receptions, 213 yards, 1 touchdown
It marked the first of two monster outings from Gal- lup against the Falcons. He set a career high with 13 receptions (also No. 2 on the all-time program list) and fully established himself as the Rams’ go-to deep threat, despite a costly late-game fumble in a 49-46 road loss.
4. Sept. 30, 2017, at Hawaii — 8 receptions, 212 yards, 1 touchdown
Gallup’s average yardsper-catch, 26.5, was bonkers in Honolulu, thanks in large part to a 76-yard touchdown catch, the longest of his career. Gallup has eclipsed 200 yards receiving in three games over two seasons. He did it this time with just eight catches.
3. Nov. 26, 2016, at San Diego State — 7 receptions, 139 yards, 3 touchdowns
CSU rolled up 63 points against the Aztecs in the regular-season finale behind a dominating Gallup performance. It marked his first multi-touchdown game for the Rams with scoring receptions of 35, 18 and 6 yards. The performance pushed Gallup to over 1,100 yards receiving, despite having just eight total receptions through CSU’s first three games.
Gallup’s first bowl performance was one to remember. He caught six passes, and three went for second-half touchdowns of 12, 60 and 3 yards. The Rams lost 61-50 to Idaho, but Gallup officially put the college football world on notice with his talents.
1. Oct. 14, 2017, vs. Nevada — 13 receptions, 263 yards, 3 touchdowns
The statistics alone put this performance atop the list as Gallup set a career high with 263 yards receiving, falling just short of the program record (Olabisi Johnson, 265), in addition to scoring three touchdowns. But one catch stood out among the rest. In the second quarter, Gallup snatched the ball over the outstretched arms of a Nevada defender.
College football awards finalists
Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player) Bradley Chubb, N.C. State Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama Roquan Smith, Georgia Biletnikoff Award (receiver)
Michael Gallup, CSU David Sills, West Virginia James Washington, Okla. St. Lou Groza Award (kicker) Daniel Carlson, Auburn Dominik Eberle, Utah State Matt Gay, Utah
Ray Guy Award (punter) Michael Dickson, Texas JK Scott, Alabama Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah Maxwell Award (player of the year) Saquon Barkley, Penn State Bryce Love, Stanford Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Davey O’Brien Award (quarterback)
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Mason Rudolph, Okla. St. Outland Trophy (interior lineman) Orlando Brown, Oklahoma Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame Ed Oliver, Houston
Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back)
DeShon Elliott, Texas Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama Josh Jackson, Iowa
Doak Walker Award (running back)
Saquon Barkley, Penn State Bryce Love, Stanford Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin