Pair Of Florida Receivers Named To Biletnikoff Award List
Friday, September 8, 2006 | Football
University of Florida wide receivers Dallas Baker (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) and Andre Caldwell (Tampa, Fla.) have been named to the Watch List for the 2006 Biletnikoff Award presented annually to the nation's outstanding receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
Baker began his senior campaign by leading UF's receiving corps in receptions (nine) and yards (123) in the season-opening victory over Southern Miss last Saturday night. He caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Chris Leak (Charlotte, N.C.) on the final play of the first quarter and also had a 29-yard reception, while five of his nine catches resulted in first downs. His final reception, an 11-yarder in the fourth quarter, was the 100th of his collegiate career. Two of Baker's four 100-yard career outings have come in the past two games and he has caught a touchdown pass in three-straight outings.
Last season, Baker ranked second for the Gators with 52 catches for 697 yards and averaged 13.4 yards per reception, which was 17th in the SEC. His five TD receptions were second on the Orange and Blue, behind Chad Jackson's team-leading nine receiving scores. In addition, Baker's 63.0 receiving yards per game against top-25 opponents ranked as the third-highest total in the nation. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the Outback Bowl after setting career highs in receptions (10) and yardage (147), and matched his career-best performance with two touchdown catches (of 24 and 38 yards) in the 31-24 triumph over the Hawkeyes.
Returning to action for the first time since a season-ending injury versus Tennessee in Sept. 2005, Caldwell had three catches for 16 yards against Southern Miss. He had 10 receptions for 148 yards and five rushes for 64 yards (12.8 avg.) last year before suffering a broken leg on a kickoff return. Caldwell's total of 62 catches tied for the sixth-best in UF history for a two-year freshman and sophomore starter. He was an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly in 2004, when he was second on the Gators in yardage (689) and receptions (43).
Florida has had 10 different receivers named a semifinalist for the award, four of whom made it to the finalist stage. The award is presented annually on the ESPN College Awards Show and the annual awards banquet is held during February in Tallahassee, Fla.
2006 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
| Player | School |
| Andre Caldwell | University of Florida |
| Aundrae Allison | East Carolina University |
| Billy Pittman | University of Texas |
| Brian Hernandez | University of Utah |
| Caleb Spencer | University of Nevada |
| Calvin Johnson | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Chandler Williams | Florida International University |
| Chansi Stucky | Clemson University |
| Chris Davis | Florida State University |
| Dallas Baker | University of Florida |
| Damien Linson | Central Michigan University |
| Davone Bess | University of Hawaii |
| Deon Butler | Pennsylvania State University |
| Derrick Williams | Pennsylvania State University |
| Deyon Williams | University of Virginia |
| D'Jaun Woods | Oklahoma State University |
| Dorien Bryant | Purdue University |
| Dwayne Bowe | Louisiana State University |
| Dwayne Jarrett | University of Southern California |
| Earl Bennett | Vanderbilt University |
| Eric Deslauriers | Eastern Michigan University |
| Eric Newman | Louisiana Tech University |
| Greg Carr | Florida State University |
| James Hardy | Indiana University |
| Jarrett Hicks | Texas Tech University |
| Jason Hill | Washington State University |
| Jeff Samardzija | University of Notre Dame |
| Joel Falani | Texas Tech University |
| Johnnie Lee Higgins | University of Texas at El Paso |
| Johnny Quinn | University of North Texas |
| Johnny Walker | Colorado State University |
| Jonny Harline | Brigham Young University |
| Jordy Nelson | Kansas State University |
| Kevin Robinson | University of Utah |
| Marcus Monk | University of Arkansas |
| Mario Urrutia | University of Louisville |
| Mike Thomas | University of Arizona |
| Mike Walker | University of Central Florida |
| Mohammad Massaquoi | University of Georgia |
| Nate Swift | University of Nebraska |
| Paul Williams | Fresno State University |
| Robert Johnson | Texas Tech University |
| Ryan Grice-Mullen | University of Hawaii |
| Ryan Robinson | Miami University, Ohio |
| Shaun Herbert | Northwestern University |
| Steve Smith | University of Southern California |
| Sydney Rice | University of South Carolina |
| Ted Ginn, Jr. | Ohio State University |
| Todd Blythe | Iowa State University |
| Tony Pennyman | University of Utah |
| Vincent Marshall | University of Houston |
--UF--
