Nelson Named Semifinalist for Biletnikoff Award

MANHATTAN, Kan. Kansas State senior Jordy Nelson is one of 12 wide receivers nationally to be named a semifinalist for the 2007 Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation has announced.

Nelson is the first Wildcat receiver since Quincy Morgan in 2000 to be named a semifinalist for the award and just the third overall as Kevin Lockett was a semifinalist back in 1996.

A native of Riley, Kan., Nelson has opened his senior season in grand fashion as he has grabbed a school-record 76 receptions for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns. The former walk-on has 160 receptions for 2,224 yards and 16 touchdowns during his three-year stint at wide receiver to establish himself on three career top-10 receiving lists at K-State. Nelson stands third on the K-State career receptions list with 160 and eyes Michael Smith (1988-91) who is in second place with 179.

With his 105 yards against Baylor, Nelson overtook Morgan (1999-00) for fourth place on the career yardage list at Kansas State. The All-American candidate also moved into fourth place on the career touchdowns list with 16 and needs just two more scores to tie James Terry (2002-03) for third.

Nelson has already set the single-season receptions record and is on the cusp of shattering one more single-season mark. With his eight catches last week against Baylor, Nelson now has 76 on the season, which is one more than former record holder Darnell McDonald had in 1998. Even more impressive is that Nelson has racked up 1,008 receiving yards this season and is on track to shatter James Terry’s record of 1,232 in 2003. Nelson is also in select company as he is just one of five receivers to collect 1,000 or more receiving yards in a season.

Nelson’s outstanding senior season has not only moved him up the career charts at K-State, but also has ascended him to the top nationally. After collecting 61 receptions for 836 yards in the last six games, Nelson has leaped to second nationally in both receptions per game (9.5) and receiving yards (1,008). Nelson is one of just two receivers in the nation this season that has recorded 1,000 or more receiving yards.

Three finalists will be chosen at a later date with the winner being announced on December 6 during ESPN’s College Football Awards Program in Orlando, Fla.

k-statesports.com

Kansas State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos