Watkins Added to Biletnikoff Watch List

Sept. 23, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson freshman receiver Sammy Watkins is one of 19 new players added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch list. The 19 new players were announced by the Biletnikoff Committee on Friday. The award goes to the top receiver in college football each year.

Watkins is a true freshman from Fort Myers, FL who leads Clemson in receiving with 21 receptions for 292 yards in four touchdowns. He leads Clemson in all three areas and has already tied the Clemson freshman record for reception touchdowns for a season.

Watkins had 10 receptions for 155 yards and two scores in the win over Auburn last week. Those were Clemson freshman receiving records in all three categories as well. He gained 199 yards from scrimmage in that victory and was named the National Freshman of the Week by Rivals.com, the ACC Receiver of the Week and the ACC Rookie of the Week.

It is the second straight week Watkins has been named the league’s top rookie. He had 196 all-purpose running yards in the win over Wofford and was named the ACC Rookie of the Week.

There is a bit of irony in Watkins’s addition to the Biletnikoff List. Fred Biletnikoff, the man the award is named after, played for Florida State in the 1960s. Clemson faces Florida State on Saturday.