Tyler Lockett, Nick Harwell Named to Fred Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Tyler Lockett, the fine senior wide receiver for the Kansas State Wildcats, and Nick Harwell, a senior transfer for the Kansas Jayhawks, have both made the watch list for the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the best collegiate wide receiver in the country.

Tyler Lockett has had a tremendous career as a kick returner but in 2013, he became a premier play making receiver for the Wildcats. In his three years at K-State, Lockett has averaged 31.1 yards on his 59 kick returns, with 4 touchdowns.

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After catching 62 balls for 933 yards, and 7 touchdowns, Lockett exploded as a junior. In 2013, he pulled in 81 passes for 1,262 yards, and 11 touchdowns, despite missing one game due to injury.

Nick Harwell, still a player some fans may not be familiar with, has already had a terrific career, but with the Miami (OH) Redhawks. Harwell transferred to Kansas after producing some incredible numbers at Miami. He has 229 career catches for 3,166 yards, with 23 touchdowns, in 34 games.

Harwell gives the Kansas Jayhawks the reliable star receiver they have so lacked since the Mark Mangino years.

Both players are in their last seasons of eligibility and both could be the primary play makers for the Sunflower State schools. Lockett is as exciting of a player as there is in the Big 12, and Harwell has the career numbers to show he is deserving to be on this watch list.

Four other Big 12 receivers made the list, including two from Baylor – Antwan Goodley and Levi Norwood. Jaxon Shipley from Texas, and Jakeem Grant from Texas Tech also made the list.

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Between the players from Kansas and Kansas State, the Wildcat has a much better chance to be a legitimate candidate for the award at year’s end. While Lockett has a pass first quarterback in Jake Waters throwing the ball to him, Harwell only has Montell Cozart heaving the ball Harwell’s way.

Waters completed 61.2% of his pass attempts in 2013 while Cozart connected on just 36.5% of his pass attempts. That does not bode well for Harwell to have a great season.

Of course, when Harwell transferred, he thought pro-style quarterback Jake Heaps was going to be his quarterback. Not only is Heaps gone, but the Jayhawks are no longer running a pro-style offense.

Regardless, it is a nice show of respect on a national level for their talents to make the preseason watch lists. Hopefully, both Tyler Lockett and Nick Harwell will have terrific senior campaigns and be strong candidates at the end of the season.