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PROVO, Utah -- Senior wide receiver Todd Watkins is one of 31 players who has been named to the watch list for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver. Watkins is one of six Cougars that have been named to preseason watch lists.
Watkins broke onto the national scene in 2004 when he led the Mountain West Conference with 1,042 yards receiving ands set a league single-season record, averaging 94.7 yards per contest. He also caught 52 passes and six touchdowns, four of which were for 68, 69, 70 and 79 yards. His combination of size and speed earned him the label of nation's top deep threat from Sports Illustrated.
Against nationally-ranked Boise State, Watkins set a career-high with 211 yards receiving on nine receptions. For the season he recorded over 100 yards on five occasions.
Before coming to BYU, Watkins played at Grossmont College in 2003, earning first-team all-state and all-conference honors and helping lead the Griffins to a 13-1 record, a 10-0 regular-season finish and the 2003 Foothill Valley Conference Championship. In 10 regular-season games he caught 40 passes for 915 yards for an average of 22.9 yards per reception.
Watkins is from San Diego, Calif. and his brother, Travis, plays offensive line at USC. He also received scholarship offers from Hawai'i, Kansas State and Oregon State.
Watkins is the sixth Cougar to be named to a watch list for a major award this season. The others include: junior linebacker Cameron Jensen (Bronko Nagurski Trophy), senior offensive lineman Lance Reynolds (Rimington Trophy), junior offensive lineman Jake Kuresa (Outland Trophy), junior tight end Daniel Coats (Mackey Award) and junior quarterback John Beck (Davey O'Brien Award).
Written by BYU Athletic Communications
