PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference was well-represented on the preseason watch lists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the top receiver in college football, and the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented to the sport’s top community servant.
East Carolina wide receiver Zay Jones was named to both lists. He is one five players from The American on the Biletnikoff Award list and one of eight from the conference on the Wuerffel Trophy list.
Jones was a second-team all-conference performer in 2015 after he led The American and ranked fourth nationally in receptions per game (8.2 rpg). He finished the season with 98 catches for 1,099 yards and five touchdowns for the Pirates.
The Biletnikoff Award also included Houston’s Chance Allen, USF’s Rodney Adams, SMU’s Courtland Sutton and Tulsa’s Josh Atkinson on its preseason list.
Adams was a second-team all-conference selection in 2015 after he set school records with 822 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. Adams had at least one touchdown in seven of USF’s last nine games of the season, helping the Bulls go 7-2 down the stretch.
Allen is the top returning receiver for Houston in 2016. He finished the 2015 season with 56 receptions for 752 yards and six touchdowns, helping the Cougars to finish 13-1.
Sutton was one of the top freshmen in college football in 2015 as he led the Mustangs in catches (49) and yards (862) and tied for the American Athletic Conference lead with nine touchdown receptions. He tied Emmanuel Sanders’ school record for touchdown catches and bettered the Mustangs’ previous freshman receiving mark by 173 yards.
Atkinson was a key part of Tulsa’s high-powered offense in 2015 after he had 76 catches for 1,071 yards and five touchdowns. He registered a streak of five straight 100-yard games during the season, and had career highs of 11 receptions and 139 yards in the Camping World Independence Bowl.
In addition to Jones, the other American Athletic Conference players on the Wuerffel Tropy watch list include UCF quarterback Justin Holman, UConn kicker Bobby Puyol, Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr., Memphis kicker Jake Elliott, Temple offensive lineman Brendan McGowan, Tulane tight end Marshall Wadleigh and Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans.
| Biletnikoff Award Watch List (Top Receiver) |
| Zay Jones |
WR |
East Carolina |
| Chance Allen |
WR |
Houston |
| Rodney Adams |
WR |
USF |
| Courtland Sutton |
WR |
SMU |
| Josh Atkinson |
WR |
Tulsa |
| Wuerffel Trophy Watch List (Community Service) |
| Justin Holman |
QB |
UCF |
| Bobby Puyol |
K |
UConn |
| Zay Jones |
WR |
East Carolina |
| Greg Ward Jr. |
QB |
Houston |
| Jake Elliott |
K |
Memphis |
| Brendan McGowan |
OL |
Temple |
| Marshall Wadleigh |
TE |
Tulane |
| Dane Evans |
QB |
Tulsa |