Colorado State University Athletics
Breaking down the Biletnikoff finalists
11/21/2017 3:05:00 PM | Football
Looking at the stellar seasons put together by Michael Gallup, David Sills V, James Washington
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., announced on Monday the three finalists for the 2017 Biletnikoff Award. Colorado State's Michael Gallup was joined by David Sills V (West Virginia) and James Washington (Oklahoma State) as finalists for the award that honors the nation's outstanding receiver, regardless of position.
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All three wide outs have had productive seasons, and all three have strong cases to win the Biletnikoff Award.
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A look at all three finalists:
MICHAEL GALLUP
School: Colorado State
Hometown/Previous School: Monroe, Ga./Butler County CC
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Year: Senior
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Through Week 12 of the 2017 season, Michael Gallup ranks first in the FBS with 1,245 receiving yards, second in receiving yards per game (112.1) and fourth in receptions per game (7.8). Gallup also leads the nation in receptions of 10-plus yards (56).
Gallup is the only player in the country with two 200-yard receiving games this season. He had a career-high 263 yards on 13 catches against Nevada on Oct. 14 – the fourth-highest single-game total in the FBS this season.
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The Monroe, Ga., native still holds the nation's top performance against No. 1 Alabama this season. Lining up against a Crimson Tide secondary that included projected first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, Gallup pulled in five catches for 81 yards.
In the first three games of Mountain West play, (Sept. 30 at Hawai'i, Oct. 7 at Utah State, Oct. 14 vs. Nevada), Gallup posted 28 catches for 563 yards – the best three-game receiving stretch in CSU history. For his efforts against Nevada, Gallup was named MW Offensive Player of the Week.
Gallup, who grew up in a family as the youngest of five boys and three girls, was recently profiled by the Associated Press.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 94 (2nd)
Receptions per game: 7.8 (4th)
Yards: 1,345 (1st)
Yards per game: 112.1 (2nd)
Receiving TDs: 7 (T-39th)
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DAVID SILLS V
School: West Virginia
Hometown/Previous School: Wilmington, Del./Eastern Christian Academy
Height/Weight: 6-4/203
Year: Junior
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The junior from Delaware leads the FBS in receiving touchdowns (18) – five more than any other player. He has seven games this season with multiple TD receptions. Nearly one-third of his total receptions (18 of 57, or 31.6 percent) are touchdowns.
Sills V has 903 yards on 57 receptions this season, averaging 15.8 yards per catch and 82.1 yards per game.
His top single-game output came against East Carolina, totaling 153 yards and three TDs. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver has four 100-yard outings in 2017.
He originally came to West Virginia in 2015 and played wide receiver for the Mountaineers as a freshman. He then spent 2016 at El Camino College, where he was an all-league quarterback in the South California Football Association.
Before this season, Sports Illustrated featured Sills V and his evolution from being a star high school quarterback to being a standout wide out.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 57 (T-45th)
Receptions per game: 5.2 (T-50th)
Yards: 903 (27th)
Yards per game: 82.1 (33rd)
Receiving TDs: 18 (1st)
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JAMES WASHINGTON
School: Oklahoma State
Hometown/Previous School: Stamford, Texas/Stamford HS
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Year: Senior
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Washington was a unanimous preseason and midseason All-America selection this year, following two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. Washington has eclipsed 1,000 yards this season, with 1,317 on the year (second in the FBS).
The Stamford, Texas, product started the season by going over the 100-yard mark in six of his first seven games (only non-100 yard game: 98 yards at South Alabama). His top total of the season came against Baylor, posting 235 yards on six catches.
His 21.6 yards per catch rank first in the FBS among players with at least 50 receptions. He is also tied for fifth in TD receptions with 11.
Washington was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season, and saved one of his best performances for last in 2016, hauling in nine catches for 171 yards against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, earning MVP honors.
CBS Sports recently profiled Washington and his small-town, west Texas upbringing.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 61 (28th)
Receptions per game: 5.5 (T-37th) Â
Yards: 1,317 (2nd)
Yards per game: 119.7 (1st)
Receiving TDs: 11 (T-5th)
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All three wide outs have had productive seasons, and all three have strong cases to win the Biletnikoff Award.
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A look at all three finalists:
MICHAEL GALLUP
School: Colorado State
Hometown/Previous School: Monroe, Ga./Butler County CC
Height/Weight: 6-1/200
Year: Senior
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Through Week 12 of the 2017 season, Michael Gallup ranks first in the FBS with 1,245 receiving yards, second in receiving yards per game (112.1) and fourth in receptions per game (7.8). Gallup also leads the nation in receptions of 10-plus yards (56).
Gallup is the only player in the country with two 200-yard receiving games this season. He had a career-high 263 yards on 13 catches against Nevada on Oct. 14 – the fourth-highest single-game total in the FBS this season.
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The Monroe, Ga., native still holds the nation's top performance against No. 1 Alabama this season. Lining up against a Crimson Tide secondary that included projected first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, Gallup pulled in five catches for 81 yards.
In the first three games of Mountain West play, (Sept. 30 at Hawai'i, Oct. 7 at Utah State, Oct. 14 vs. Nevada), Gallup posted 28 catches for 563 yards – the best three-game receiving stretch in CSU history. For his efforts against Nevada, Gallup was named MW Offensive Player of the Week.
Gallup, who grew up in a family as the youngest of five boys and three girls, was recently profiled by the Associated Press.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 94 (2nd)
Receptions per game: 7.8 (4th)
Yards: 1,345 (1st)
Yards per game: 112.1 (2nd)
Receiving TDs: 7 (T-39th)
 DAVID SILLS V
School: West Virginia
Hometown/Previous School: Wilmington, Del./Eastern Christian Academy
Height/Weight: 6-4/203
Year: Junior
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The junior from Delaware leads the FBS in receiving touchdowns (18) – five more than any other player. He has seven games this season with multiple TD receptions. Nearly one-third of his total receptions (18 of 57, or 31.6 percent) are touchdowns.
Sills V has 903 yards on 57 receptions this season, averaging 15.8 yards per catch and 82.1 yards per game.
His top single-game output came against East Carolina, totaling 153 yards and three TDs. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver has four 100-yard outings in 2017.
He originally came to West Virginia in 2015 and played wide receiver for the Mountaineers as a freshman. He then spent 2016 at El Camino College, where he was an all-league quarterback in the South California Football Association.
Before this season, Sports Illustrated featured Sills V and his evolution from being a star high school quarterback to being a standout wide out.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 57 (T-45th)
Receptions per game: 5.2 (T-50th)
Yards: 903 (27th)
Yards per game: 82.1 (33rd)
Receiving TDs: 18 (1st)
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JAMES WASHINGTON
School: Oklahoma State
Hometown/Previous School: Stamford, Texas/Stamford HS
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Year: Senior
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Washington was a unanimous preseason and midseason All-America selection this year, following two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. Washington has eclipsed 1,000 yards this season, with 1,317 on the year (second in the FBS).
The Stamford, Texas, product started the season by going over the 100-yard mark in six of his first seven games (only non-100 yard game: 98 yards at South Alabama). His top total of the season came against Baylor, posting 235 yards on six catches.
His 21.6 yards per catch rank first in the FBS among players with at least 50 receptions. He is also tied for fifth in TD receptions with 11.
Washington was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season, and saved one of his best performances for last in 2016, hauling in nine catches for 171 yards against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, earning MVP honors.
CBS Sports recently profiled Washington and his small-town, west Texas upbringing.
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Stats (NCAA rank):
Receptions: 61 (28th)
Receptions per game: 5.5 (T-37th) Â
Yards: 1,317 (2nd)
Yards per game: 119.7 (1st)
Receiving TDs: 11 (T-5th)
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