Bowling Green State University Athletics
Harold Fannin Jr. Named a Semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award
November 19, 2024 | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Tallahassee Quarterback (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, announced that Bowling Green tight end Harold Fanning Jr. as one its 11 semifinalists. The secure and confidential electronic voting by the distinguished members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee was conducted from Nov. 11-17 and certified by a prominent CPA firm.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a finalist in 2020, and other tight ends were semifinalists in prior years. Moreover, the Biletnikoff Award is a single season, not career, award.
Fannin (Jr., Canton, Ohio) is the first Falcon to be a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award since Roger Lewis in 2015. Fannin's numbers are some of the best in the nation. He is No. 2 nationally in receiving yards (1,170) and No. 3 in receptions (86). Fannin leads the nation in yards after catch (646) and 100+-yard games (6). He is also tied for No. 1 in the nation with 25 broken tackles and is No. 2 in the nation with 56 first downs. The No. 1 overall graded FBS player by Pro Football Focus (96.9), Fannin is No. 2 in the nation in receptions of 10+ yards (49), 20+ yards (19) and 60+ yards (3), and No. 5 in the nation on receptions of 30+ yards (10).
The only tight end among this year's semifinalists, Fannin leads the nation's tight ends in over 20 offensive categories and his 1,170 receiving yards ranks No. 5 all-time in FBS history for receiving yards by a tight end and his 83 receptions rank No. 11 in FBS history for a single season by a tight end. Fannin is also one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award.
Fannin is the opponent in 2024 to have a 100+ receiving yards game against Penn State (11 rec., 137 yards, 1 TD) and he had the most receiving yards a single player has amassed against Texas A&M in 2024 (8 rec., 145 yards, 1 TD)
The 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists are as follows (in alphabetical order):
• Jack Bech (WR), TCU
• Ja'Corey Brooks (WR), Louisville
• Harold Fannin Jr. (TE), Bowling Green
• Tai Felton (WR), Maryland
• Tre Harris (WR), Ole Miss
• Travis Hunter (WR), Colorado
• Tetairoa McMillan (WR), Arizona
• Nick Nash (WR), San Jose State
• Xavier Restrepo (WR), Miami
• Jeremiah Smith (WR), Ohio State
• Ryan Williams (WR), Alabama
The name Biletnikoff is synonymous with the term receiver. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was a consensus All-America receiver at Florida State University and an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI.
Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. The Biletnikoff award winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a finalist in 2020, and other tight ends were semifinalists in prior years. Moreover, the Biletnikoff Award is a single season, not career, award.
Fannin (Jr., Canton, Ohio) is the first Falcon to be a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award since Roger Lewis in 2015. Fannin's numbers are some of the best in the nation. He is No. 2 nationally in receiving yards (1,170) and No. 3 in receptions (86). Fannin leads the nation in yards after catch (646) and 100+-yard games (6). He is also tied for No. 1 in the nation with 25 broken tackles and is No. 2 in the nation with 56 first downs. The No. 1 overall graded FBS player by Pro Football Focus (96.9), Fannin is No. 2 in the nation in receptions of 10+ yards (49), 20+ yards (19) and 60+ yards (3), and No. 5 in the nation on receptions of 30+ yards (10).
The only tight end among this year's semifinalists, Fannin leads the nation's tight ends in over 20 offensive categories and his 1,170 receiving yards ranks No. 5 all-time in FBS history for receiving yards by a tight end and his 83 receptions rank No. 11 in FBS history for a single season by a tight end. Fannin is also one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award.
Fannin is the opponent in 2024 to have a 100+ receiving yards game against Penn State (11 rec., 137 yards, 1 TD) and he had the most receiving yards a single player has amassed against Texas A&M in 2024 (8 rec., 145 yards, 1 TD)
The 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists are as follows (in alphabetical order):
• Jack Bech (WR), TCU
• Ja'Corey Brooks (WR), Louisville
• Harold Fannin Jr. (TE), Bowling Green
• Tai Felton (WR), Maryland
• Tre Harris (WR), Ole Miss
• Travis Hunter (WR), Colorado
• Tetairoa McMillan (WR), Arizona
• Nick Nash (WR), San Jose State
• Xavier Restrepo (WR), Miami
• Jeremiah Smith (WR), Ohio State
• Ryan Williams (WR), Alabama
The name Biletnikoff is synonymous with the term receiver. Fred Biletnikoff, a member of the pro and college football halls of fame, was a consensus All-America receiver at Florida State University and an All-Pro receiver for the Oakland Raiders. He caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 touchdowns in his 14-year Raiders career from 1965 through 1978. Fred was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI.
Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. The Biletnikoff award winner will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.
Players Mentioned
TE
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