October 5, 1998

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior Damon Williams has been named to the 1998 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced.

Williams, who is the school's all-time leader in receptions with 174, is one of 32 candidates for the award given annually to the nation's finest receiver.

Named after former Florida State and Oakland Raider great Fred Biletnikoff, the honor began in 1994. Last year's winner was Marshall All-American Randy Moss. Former WAC player Marcus Harris of Wyoming was the 1996 recipient.

The Biletnikoff Award is voted on by a panel of former collegiate wide receivers and members of the national media.

An initial vote will result in the announcement of 10 semifinalists on October 20. A second vote will pare the group to three finalists who will travel to Orlando for the December 10 announcement of this year's winner live on ESPN. Also, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club will have its annual Biletnikoff Award banquet on February 11.

Williams, a former quarterback at Culver City (Calif.) High School, has caught at least one pass in a school-record 39 consecutive games - or every game of his career. A consensus preseason first-team All-WAC selection, he needs just 129 yards to overtake Henry Bailey as UNLV's career receiving yards leader with 2,516. This season he has 18 catches for 202 yards and one touchdown.