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| Marqise Lee has enjoyed a record-setting season at USC already. (US Presswire) |
The Biletnikoff Award has announced its 10 2012 semifinalists, featuring a name currently firmly in the Heisman headlines -- hello, Marqise Lee -- and one well off the national radar (hello, New Mexico State's Austin Franklin?).
Here they are:
Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Stedman Bailey,West Virginia
Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
Austin Franklin, New Mexico State
Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
Austin Hill, Arizona
DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
Marqise Lee, Southern California
Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech
Terrance Williams, Baylor
The 10 names above take up 10 of the top 11 spots in receiving yards per-game, with Boston College's Alex Amidon -- fourth in the nation at 115.7 yards per-game -- the only exclusion.
Fairly or not, that emphasis on statistical production means the list of semifinalists is concentrated firmly on the FBS's more pass-happy conferences. The SEC, Big Ten, Big East and ACC combine for just two of the 10 representatives, Clemson's Hopkins and Arkansas' Hamilton; meanwhile, the Big 12 features three names, the Pac-12 three, and the WAC the remaining two.
As for the winner? Given the nosedive from the West Virginia offense, Baylor's lackluster overall record, and the explosive Patton's low profile, backing anyone other than Lee at this point seems like a mistake.
