Smith, Wingo, Coleman, Craver headline Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation released its Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list on Wednesday, highlighting several marquee wide receivers from Power Four programs. The award is given annually to college football's top FBS receiver, with the winner to be announced on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11.

Ohio State sophomore Jeremiah Smith was among the most prominent names on the list. Smith has accumulated 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown catches over his first two college seasons — the most of any receiver in the country over that span. Smith appeared on the watch list as a freshman in 2024 but did not advance to finalist status, and last season he was one of three finalists before losing the award to USC's Makai Lemon. Only Terry Glenn in 1995 and Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023 have won the Biletnikoff while playing for Ohio State.

Texas Duo Makes List

Texas placed two receivers on the watch list: returning starter Ryan Wingo and transfer Cam Coleman, both juniors. Coleman arrived in Austin this offseason after departing Auburn, where he had also appeared on the Biletnikoff preseason watch list a year ago. Texas has not produced a Biletnikoff finalist since wide receiver Jordan Shipley reached that stage in 2009. Former Longhorns tight end Jack Endries made the watch list last season, and wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor appeared on it together in 2022.

Texas A&M junior Mario Craver also earned a spot on the list. The 5-foot-9 slot receiver was named to the Coaches All-SEC First Team as both a wide receiver and all-purpose player after recording 59 receptions for 917 yards and four touchdowns last season, adding 81 rushing yards and one rushing score. Across two seasons at Mississippi State and one at Texas A&M, Craver has appeared in 21 career games with 76 receptions for 1,285 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.

Craver is expected to serve as quarterback Marcel Reed's primary target in College Station following the departure of KC Concepcion, who was selected 24th overall by the Cleveland Browns. The Aggies also added Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, a 6-foot-4 wideout, giving Texas A&M one of the deeper wide receiver rooms in the SEC heading into the 2026 season.