Decker Makes Biletnikoff Award Preseason List

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation has announced the watch list for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award. Minnesota senior wide receiver Eric Decker, who was a finalist for the award in 2008, is among 37 student-athletes on the watch list. The 16th annual award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, a Florida State All-America receiver and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

Eric Decker is a two-sport student-athlete (football/baseball), who is one of the nation’s top receivers and one of the top pass-catchers in Minnesota history. He has appeared in 36 games with 26 starts as a Gopher.

Decker was tied for No. 6 in the nation and led the Big Ten with 10.0 receptions per game in 2008. He He was fourth in the Big Ten and 41st in the country with 89.0 receiving yards per game.

Decker ranks second all-time at Minnesota in career receptions with 177 and needs just two more catches to tie Ron Johnson (1998-2001) for the school record. He ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards with 2,361, third in receiving touchdowns with 19 and fourth in 100-yard receiving games with 7. He enters the 2009 season with a streak of at least one reception in 26 straight games played. Decker is also a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and was a CoSIDA?Academic All-District choice in 2008.

2009 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Kris Adams, UTEP
Seyi Ajirotutu, Fresno State
Brandon Banks, Kansas State
Doug Beaumont, Louisville
Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
Tyron Carrier, Houston
Eric Decker, Minnesota
Jacoby Ford, Clemson
Cortez Gent, Florida Atlantic
Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
A.J. Green, Georgia
Rashaun Greer, Colorado State
DeAndre Goodwin, Washington
T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
Shay Hodge, Mississippi
Jerrel Jernigan, Troy
Demaris Johnson, Tulsa
Julio Jones, Alabama
Brandon LaFell, LSU
Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
Kerry Meier, Kansas
Dennis Pitta, BYU
Taylor Price, Ohio
Aldrick Robinson, SMU
Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
Greg Salas, Hawaii
Jordan Shipley, Texas
Jacory Stone, Eastern Michigan
Golden Tate, Notre Dame
Damian Williams, USC
Stephen Williams, Toledo
Ryan Wolfe, UNLV