July 15, 2014
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV senior wide receiver Devante Davis is part of another watch list -- this time the Biletnikoff Award, which goes each season to the nation's top pass catcher.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the Biletnikoff Award, released the 2014 preseason list on Tuesday. The winner is selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group 221 college football journalists, commentators and former receivers.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation will announce the 10 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on Nov. 17 and the three finalists will be announced one week later. The 2014 Biletnikoff Award will be presented on Dec. 11 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN. The winner will receive his trophy at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Feb. 7, 2015. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was an All-Pro receiver with the Oakland Raiders and an All-America receiver at Florida State.
Davis (6-3, 200) was a unanimous choice for Preseason First Team All-Mountain West by Lindy's, Athlon and Phil Steele's preview publications. He is the nation's top returning touchdown catcher after grabbing 14 in 2013, which shattered UNLV's single-season record. Lindy's also named him the league's "Top Deep Threat" after a junior season that saw him finish with 87 receptions for 1,290 yards.
A native of the Houston area, Davis' 2,144 combined yards in 2012-13 made him the first player in school history to go over 2,000 yards through the air in a two-season span. Earlier this summer he was one of 77 players named to the watch list for the prestigious Maxwell Award, which is given to the national player of the year, and was also one of 42 players named to the College Football Performance Awards Wide Receiver Trophy Watch List.
UNLV will hold its first practice August 6 and open its season on Friday, Aug. 29 at Arizona. The home opener is Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Northern Colorado. Season tickets are on sale now starting at only $90 for all six home games. Three-game mini-plans are also on sale starting as low as $42. Call (702) 739-FANS or log on to www.unlvtickets.com for more information.
2014 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch ListNelson Agholor, USCDres Anderson, UtahKenny Bell, NebraskaTyler Boyd, PittsburghDa'Ron Brown, Northern IllinoisRashon Ceaser, Louisiana MonroeSammie Coates, AuburnAmari Cooper, AlabamaJamison Crowder, DukeTitus Davis, Central MichiganGeremy Davis, ConnecticutDevante Davis, UNLVQuinshad Davis, North CarolinaCorey Davis, Western MichiganStefon Diggs, MarylandDevin Funchess, MichiganAntwan Goodley, BaylorJakeem Grant, Texas TechDeontay Greenberry, HoustonRashad Greene, Florida StateRannell Hall, UCFJustin Hardy, East CarolinaJosh Harper, Fresno StateChris Harper, CaliforniaNick Harwell, KansasRashard Higgins, Colorado StateAustin Hill, ArizonaChristian Jones, NorthwesternDarius Joseph, SMUJameon Lewis, Mississippi StateTyler Lockett, Kansas StateMatt Miller, Boise StateTy Montgomery, StanfordRichard Mullaney, Oregon StateJamarcus Nelson, UABLevi Norwood, BaylorDeVante Parker, LouisvilleBreshad Perriman, UCFJamal Robinson, Louisiana LafayetteEzell Ruffin, San Diego StateDominic Rufran, WyomingWes Saxton, South AlabamaJaxon Shipley, TexasTommy Shuler, MarshallDevin Smith, Ohio StateShavarez Smith, South AlabamaDaniel Spencer, HoustonJaelen Strong, Arizona StateJordan Taylor, RiceLaquon Treadwell, Ole MissRichy Turner, Nevada, RenoShaq Washington, CincinnatiJordan Williams, Ball StateTyler Winston, San Jose StateShane Wynn, Indiana
