Alabama Football’s Jeudy, Smith named semifinalists for Biletnikoff Award

By:
0
1875
L-R: Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy. (Kent Gidley/UA Athletics) Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. (Martha Needham for The Cullman Tribune)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith were selected as semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced on Monday morning.

Alabama has had two winners in program history, including Jeudy, who is the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner from a season ago. Also taking home the hardware was Amari Cooper in 2014.

Jeudy, leads all Tide receivers with 64 catches totaling 867 yards and nine touchdowns. The junior wideout leads UA with 44 catches that have gone for a first down or touchdown this season while he is tied for the team lead in explosive plays of 16-plus yards with 23 in 10 games. The Deerfield Beach, Fla., native ranks fifth on the Alabama career receiving yards list with 2,446 and has totaled nine games of 100-plus yards receiving, including four of 10 matchups in 2019.

A big play threat every time he touches the ball, Smith has totaled a career-high 56 catches for a 1,026 yards, a number that is second in the SEC and sixth nationally. He has added 11 touchdown receptions to lead all Alabama pass-catchers and ranks second in the league while tying for sixth nationally in that category. In 2019 alone, Smith has recorded two 200-plus yard receiving games, making him the first Crimson Tide wideout to achieve that feat since Cooper in 2014.

The duo is part of a group of 12 pass-catchers selected as semifinalists for the Biletnikoff. The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the season’s outstanding college receiver at any position that may receive a legal forward pass. The 2019 winner will be announced live on Dec. 12 at The Home Depot College Football Awards at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.