Oct. 31, 2004

LAS VEGAS - UNLV's Earvin Johnson has been named one of 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to college football's outstanding receiver.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior from Los Angeles is on the verge of rewriting several UNLV career receiving records. Despite missing most of the team's last game with an injured finger, his 43 catches for 585 yards currently rank him among the leaders in the Mountain West Conference and nation.

Overall, EJ needs 22 receptions to pass Damon Williams (187 from 1995-98) as the school's career leader, 165 yards to surpass Williams' record 2,558 and just one catch in both of his next two games to break Williams' school-record streak of 39 games getting at least one grab.

The other 2004 Biletnikoff semifinalists are fellow MWC player David Anderson of Colorado State, Mark Clayton of Oklahoma, Braylon Edwards of Michigan, Derek Hagan of Arizona State, Chris Henry of West Virginia, Santonio Holmes of Ohio State, Chad Owens of Hawaii, Dante Ridgeway of Ball State, Taylor Stubblefield of Purdue and Troy Williamson of South Carolina.

Three finalists will be named Nov. 15, and the winner will be announced Dec. 9 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show from Orlando, Fla.

The Biletnikoff Award is named for College and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff and is presented by the Tallahassee (Fla.) Quarterback Club Foundation.

Larry Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh was the 2003 winner.