TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Arizona State redshirt senior wide receiver Frank Darby was named to the 2020 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation on Thursday.
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.
One of college football's top big-play threats, Darby is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he finished 10th in the nation and second in the Pac-12 with a 19.87 yard per catch average. The Jersey City, N.J., native caught 31 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors last season. Darby came on during the second half of the season, accumulating 16 catches for 387 yards (24.2 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns during one four-game stretch – UCLA-USC-Oregon State-Oregon – that included a four-catch, 125-yard, two-touchdown outing in ASU's upset of sixth-ranked Oregon. Next year, Darby will look to become the third consecutive Sun Devil receiver to be drafted and join former teammates N'Keal Harry (2019, first round) and Brandon Aiyuk (2020, first round).
The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.
Receivers are frequently added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
The Biletnikoff Award candidate eligibility and voting criteria, transparently explicit and detailed, are available for review at BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria.
The 2020 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman George Avant, Jr., keynoter and college hall of famer Chad Hennings, and college and pro football hall of famer Fred Biletnikoff before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Sun Devils on 2020 Award Watch Lists
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Jayden Daniels – story
Biletnikoff Award
Frank Darby – story
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.
One of college football's top big-play threats, Darby is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he finished 10th in the nation and second in the Pac-12 with a 19.87 yard per catch average. The Jersey City, N.J., native caught 31 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors last season. Darby came on during the second half of the season, accumulating 16 catches for 387 yards (24.2 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns during one four-game stretch – UCLA-USC-Oregon State-Oregon – that included a four-catch, 125-yard, two-touchdown outing in ASU's upset of sixth-ranked Oregon. Next year, Darby will look to become the third consecutive Sun Devil receiver to be drafted and join former teammates N'Keal Harry (2019, first round) and Brandon Aiyuk (2020, first round).
The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.
Receivers are frequently added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
The Biletnikoff Award candidate eligibility and voting criteria, transparently explicit and detailed, are available for review at BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria.
The 2020 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman George Avant, Jr., keynoter and college hall of famer Chad Hennings, and college and pro football hall of famer Fred Biletnikoff before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Sun Devils on 2020 Award Watch Lists
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Jayden Daniels – story
Biletnikoff Award
Frank Darby – story