RENO — For the first time in his career, senior wide receiver Elijah Cooks has been placed on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top receiver.
Cooks is one of 55 to earn the distinction from around the country and is one of five from the Mountain West.
He also earned preseason honors from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele Magazine, being named to their preseason All-Mountain West teams.
Cooks posted a breakout season in 2019, leading Nevada with 76 receptions, 926 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, all of which were career highs.
His 12.2 receptions per game average ranked fourth in the MW and his 71.2 receiving yards per game were good for seventh in the league. He recorded a huge performance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, totaling 197 receiving yards on 14 catches. His 197 receiving yards in the bowl game were third-most by a receiver in the conference last season. Cooks’ presence on the field was felt in nearly every game as he hauled in at least three receptions in 12 of the Pack’s 13 contests.
The semifinalists, finalists and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers.
The 2020 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman George Avant, Jr., keynoter and college hall of famer Chad Hennings, and college and pro football hall of famer Fred Biletnikoff before 550 patrons at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet at the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on March 6, 2021.
The banquet was hailed by 2014 keynote speaker Dick Vermeil, as well as by 2013 keynoter Larry Csonka, as “the best banquet in college sports.”
