Shaq Evans makes Biletnikoff watch list

UCLA receiver Shaq Evans, who enters his senior season with All-Pac-12 first team potential, made the 75-man watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. The 6-foot-1 wideout is the clear leader of a deep, young receiving corps, and should improve his 2012 totals of 877 yards and three touchdowns.

Actually winning the Biletnikoff will be tough, given that USC’s Marqise Lee returns this season with a very good shot at taking the trophy for the second year in a row. Lee was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, as well as a unanimous All-American.

Lee would be the second straight receiver to win consecutive Biletnikoff Awards, following Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon’s wins in 2010 and 2011. Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree is the only other back-to-back winner (2007-08).

This year’s watch list also included five other Pac-12 receivers: USC’s Nelson Agholor, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, Cal’s Chris Harper, Oregon’s Josh Huff and Colorado’s Paul Richardson.