(Notre Dame, IN) – Notre Dame junior wide receiver Golden Tate was named to the pre-season Biletnikoff Award Watch List along with 36 of the nation’s other top wide receivers. Tate, coming off a breakout season as a sophomore, is expected to put up big numbers in what figures to be an improved Irish offense in 2009.
As a sophomore in 2008, Tate caught 58 passes for 1.080 yards and 10 touchdowns – all team highs – as a first time starter. Tate became the downfield threat that the Irish offense had been lacking since the graduation of Jeff Samardzija. With a full season of starting experience under his belt, an experienced quarterback throwing him the ball, and a veteran offensive line, even bigger things are expected of Tate this year.
While Tate’s inclusion on the list shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, the absence of sophomore Michael Floyd is a bit surprising. Fellow sophomores AJ Green of Georga. Julio Jones of Alabama, and DeAndre Brown of Southern Miss made the list while Floyd was left off despite putting up similar numbers and missing the final 2 1/2 regular season games due to injury. If there are 37 better wide receivers in the country than Floyd, I’d be very surprised.
Jeff Samardzija was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2005 and 2006, but a Notre Dame wide receiver has never won the award.
Notre Dame will face just one opposing receiver on the list – USC’s Damien Williams. Combine the lack of elite opposing wide receivers with a veteran secondary that should be the strength of the defense and it should be toufh for opposing offenses to move the ball via the air against Notre Dame in 2009.
2009 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
- Kris Adams, UTEP
- Seyi Ajirotutu, Fresno State
- Brandon Banks, Kansas State
- Doug Beaumont, Louisville
- Arrelious Benn, Illinois
- Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
- Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
- DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss
- Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
- Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
- Tyron Carrier, Houston
- Eric Decker, Minnesota
- Jacoby Ford, Clemson
- Cortez Gent, Florida Atlantic
- Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
- AJ Green, Georgia
- Rashaun Greer, Colorado State
- D’Andre Goodwin, Washington
- T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
- Shay Hodge, Ole Miss
- Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
- Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
- Julio Jones, Alabama
- Brandon LaFell, LSU
- Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
- Kerry Meier, Kansas
- Dennis Pitta, BYU
- Taylor Price, Ohio
- Aldrick Robinson, SMU
- Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
- Greg Salas, Hawaii
- Jordan Shipley, Texas
- Jacory Stone, Eastern Michigan
- Golden Tate, Notre Dame
- Damian Williams, USC
- Stephen Williams, Toledo
- Ryan Wolfe, UNLV
The number 1 guy in yards and number 2 in receptions (same guy by the way)is not even listed. Denario Alexander should be on this list. Period! However…Golden Tate IS a fine receiver and merits this recognition.