Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley Named to 2013 Biletnikoff Award Watch List

In 2012, Davis earned second-team All-Big 12 honors and was voted the Darrell K Royal Offensive Team MVP while playing in all 13 games with 11 starts. He led the team in receiving yards (939), receiving TDs (seven) and yards per catch (16.5), and was second in receptions (57). He ranked third in the Big 12 and 21st in the FBS in yards per reception and ranked eighth in the Big 12 and 54th in the FBS in receiving yards per game (72.2). He also had four 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for fifth on the school’s single-season chart. He paired with Shipley (59 catches) to form the fifth-best receiving tandem in school history as the two combined for 116 receptions.

Davis played in 13 games with 11 starts in 2011 and led the team with 45 receptions for 609 yards and one touchdown. In 2010, he posted a UT freshman single-season record 47 receptions for 478 yards (No. 3 on UT freshman single-season list) and two TDs. He is one of only three players in school history to register multiple 100-yard receiving games as a freshman.

Last season, Shipley led the team in receptions (59), and was second in receiving yards (737) and TD receptions (six). His receptions total ranks 10th on the UT single-season chart. Over the final four games, he averaged 6.8 receptions per game. As a freshman in 2011, Shipley recorded 44 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns and was named to the Yahoo! Sports Freshman All-America Second Team. His totals ranked third on the UT single-season freshmen receiving lists in receptions and yards, and tied for second in touchdown catches.

The Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of over 200 prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers will select the award recipient. Receivers may be added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Ten semifinalists will be announced on November 18 and three finalists will be announced on November 25.

The 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 12 on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast on ESPN. The winner will receive their trophy at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, February 8, 2014. The banquet will be streamed live on ESPN3.

Created in 1994, the award is named for 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 University. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI.

Source: Texas Sports