The Biletnikoff Award watch list (top wide receiver) just got a little greedy and named 75 players. The MAC got exactly 1/15 of the honors, which divides out to five MAC players: Nick Harwell of Miami, Kamar Jorden of BGSU, Eric Page of Toledo, Western Michigan's "Jordon White," (who somehow got chosen over more properly-spelled teammate Jordan White), and Cody Wilson of Central Michigan.
Of these five, Page is obviously the most talented and will likely finish with the best numbers. Jorden is versatile and will be a major singular target for BGSU's quarterback. Harwell is the baby in the group and the only MAC sophomore honored. White is a sixth-year senior, perhaps going for his doctorate in Broncos football. And Wilson is the unknown of the group, since he'll be a huge factor in helping the nascent CMU West Coast offense thrive. And while there are many others that could have big years — Kinsman Thomas of EMU, Marcus Rivers of Buffalo, Tyshon Goode of Kent State — many of them are not getting many opportunities to contend for stats titles.
However, the one name we should all remember is LaVon Brazill. He is a punt returning whiz kid who missed most of 2010 with an injury, and I reckon he'll be a wrecking ball lining up as a wideout as well.
One MAC tight end was in the list of 34 players to watch for the Mackey Award: Temple senior tight end Evan Rodriguez. Known more as a blocking tight end, E-Rod had just 21 catches, 247 yards and two touchdowns in 2010. But also watch out for CMU's David Blackburn, Bowling Green's Alex Bayer and Toledo's Danny Noble — all more prolific in the passing game.
The hope is that 2011 will be a year for more cohesive passing games across the board. Five wideouts and one tight end is a start, but by the end don't be surprised if the names we know are doubled.