Wharton III Added To Biletnikoff Award Watch List
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Vic Wharton III was added Monday by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation Inc. to the watch list for the 2017 Biletnikoff Award that annually honors the outstanding receiver in college football. Any player regardless of position who catches a pass is eligible for the award.
Wharton is Cal's leading receiver through the first 10 games and eight starts of his 2017 junior campaign with 53 receptions for 752 yards receiving while his five touchdown receptions are tied for the team lead. Wharton has equaled a career-high eight catches in two of his last three games including for 121 yards and one touchdown in his most recent outing to help the Golden Bears defeat Oregon State last Saturday. He has at least five catches in seven of his 10 contests in 2017 including the season-opener at North Carolina when he had five receptions for a career-high 156 yards including a 67-yarder for a touchdown that was the longest reception of his career and Cal's second-longest pass play of the season. He also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to fellow wide receiver Kanawai Noa at Colorado.
Wharton has played in 21 career games with 11 starts at Cal during his 2016 sophomore and 2017 junior seasons after transferring from Tennessee. He leads all active Cal players with 81 receptions and 1045 yards receiving, while his six touchdown receptions rank third among Cal's active players. In addition, Wharton has returned 22 punts for 139 yards while losing five yards on one rush to total 1179 all-purpose yards for the Golden Bears. Wharton redshirted the 2015 season at Cal after his transfer from Tennessee, where he saw action as a 2014 true freshman and highlighted his campaign with a 49-yard reception in a TaxSlayer Bowl victory over Iowa.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 13, 2017, following the vote by the members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 20, 2017. The winner will be announced live at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show presented by Gildan televised by ESPNU on December 7, 2017 (7-9 pm EST/4-6 pm PST). The winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff and keynote speaker Floyd Little at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on February 10, 2018.
For complete details and updates of interest, together with weekly statistics and timely, important news of the Biletnikoff Award candidates, as well as a fan vote and discussion board, please consult the Foundation's website at BiletnikoffAward.com and follow @BiletnikoffAwrd on Twitter.