Following an impressive 2011 season, playing in 12 games and
racking up 800 yards in receiving, it comes as no surprise that Eric Ward has
landed as a preseason candidate for a prestigious award.
The junior wide receiver was one of 49 wide receivers around
the country, one of eight from the Big 12 Conference, to be named as a
candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s top
receiver.
This marks the fifth-straight season that a Tech wide out
has been named to this preseason list. Ward joins Michael Crabtree, 2007 and
2008, Detron Lewis, 2009 and 2010 and Alex Torres in 2011.
Crabtree is the last Tech wide receiver to actually win the
award, claiming the hardware in both seasons he was nominated, joining Justin Blackmon, the 2010 and 2011 winner, as the only wide receivers since the creation of the award to
win it in back-to-back seasons.
Ward will look to start that same trend, looking to repeat
the results from 2011, reeling in 84 catches and landing in the end zone 11
times, including the game-winning catch against Nevada.
The Wichita Falls native, also averaged 66.7 yards per game
and 9.5 yards per catch, so nearly a first down every time Ward caught the
ball.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation will announce
the semifinalists for the award on November 12, and then the hardware will be
given on December 6 during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.