July 13, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Junior wide out Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del.) claimed a spot on his second watch list of the season as he was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc. Godwin was previously named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the College Football MVP.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football. 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 the outstanding receiver, not merely outstanding wide receiver.
Bobby Engram was the inaugural award winner in 1994 and is the only Penn State player to claim the honor.
With 1,101 receiving yards and five touchdown catches, Godwin was named All-Big Ten second team by the media and third-team all-conference by the media. Godwin joined an elite group last season, becoming the third player in Penn State history to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving in a season, joining Bobby Engram and Allen Robinson. Godwin finished second on Penn State's season receiving yards chart and fourth on the season receptions list with 69 catches. In two seasons, he has moved into 17th in career receiving yards (1,422) and tied for 14th in career receptions 94).
Godwin finished 24th in FBS an second in the Big Ten in receiving yards, while ranking 49th in FBS and fifth in the Big Ten in receptions per game (5.3) in 2015. Godwin has at least one catch in 25 of 26 career games, including four or more grabs in 12 of his last 14 games. He also owns six career 100-yard performances. Godwin owns the Penn State record for career bowl receiving yardage (273 yards in two bowls). He ranks second (140; 2014 Pinstripe Bowl) and third (133; 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl) in individual bowl game receiving yardage. As a true freshman, Godwin was named to the BTN.com All-Freshman team and the ESPN.com All-Bowl Team.
Godwin joins the list of Nittany Lions to be named to watch lists this preseason. Running back Saquon Barkley (Coplay, Pa.) and junior wide receiver Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del.) were named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the National Player of the Year, junior Mike Gesicki (Manahawkin, N.J.) was named to the John Mackey Award watch list for the nation's most outstanding collegiate tight end and junior Jason Cabinda (Flemington, N.J.) and senior Nyeem Wartman-White (Philadelphia) were named to the Butkus Award watch list for the nation's top linebacker.
Penn State opens the 2016 campaign against Kent State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, September 3. Single game and season tickets for the 2016 campaign, which includes five Big Ten home games for the first time, are on sale with nearly 3,700 new season tickets having been sold. There will not be any increase in the price of Penn State football season tickets or Nittany Lion Club donation levels for next season. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2016 season tickets, the Recent Graduate program (35 percent discount on season tickets) as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.