Alabama Football’s Calvin Ridley and Gehrig Dieter Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Alabama football sophomore Calvin Ridley and senior Gehrig Dieter have been named to the 2016 Biletnikoff Award watch list announced today by the Tallahassee (Fla.) Quarterback Club.

The duo are among 53 receivers from around the country named to the preseason list recognizing the nation’s top wideout. Amari Cooper is Alabama’s lone winner, bringing home the award in 2014.

A freshman All-American in 2015, Ridley returns to anchor a talented wide receiver corps for the Crimson Tide. He set Alabama freshman records with 89 receptions for 1,045 yards in 2015, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,000 held by Amari Cooper (2012). His 89 receptions were also an SEC freshman record and the second most in FBS history by a true freshman. Ridley was selected to the Sporting News and SEC All-Freshman teams, and was also chosen to the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press following his first collegiate season. A big-play threat, 17 of Ridley’s catches went for 15-plus yards, including five of his seven scores which came on plays of 30 yards or more. He also had a team-leading 44 receptions for a first down or scores and recorded five or more catches in nine of his 11 starts and 11 games overall.

A transfer from Bowling Green State University, Dieter was a second team All-MAC selection at wide receiver for the Falcons in in 2015. He caught a team-high 94 passes (fourth in Bowling Green school history) for 1,038 yards (ninth in school history), while adding 10 receiving touchdowns (tied-seventh in school history) and had three 100-yard receiving games. He caught a season-high 13 passes for 103 yards and a career-best three touchdowns against Toledo and had seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Tennessee. He also posted a season-high 136 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches against Ohio University. Dieter helped lead BG to the MAC Championship game where the Falcons would clinch the league with a 34-14 victory over Northern Illinois and an eventual spot in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

The Biletnikoff Award has been presented annually since 1994 by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club to recognize the top receiver in college football. The award is named in honor of former Florida State and Oakland Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff. The 2016 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.