LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas senior Emmanuel Henderson Jr. has been added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced on Wednesday, presented to college football’s most outstanding FBS receiver at any position.
Henderson is among 11 additions to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, marking the first in-season addition of receivers since announcing its initial watch list on August 6.
Henderson, a native of Hartford, Alabama, is Kansas’ leading wide receiver through five games, catching 23 passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns, including receiving touchdowns of 93, 75 and 62 yards. Henderson’s 435 receiving yards are the second most in the Big 12 Conference and 10th most nationally this season.
Last week against Cincinnati, Henderson took the first offensive play for a 93-yard touchdown on a strike from quarterback Jalon Daniels. Later in the third quarter, Henderson broke free for a 75-yard touchdown, becoming the first player in FBS this season with receiving touchdowns of 75+ yards in the same game. Henderson finished with the fifth most receiving yards in school history, 214, on five catches and two touchdowns.
Henderson is currently one of four players in FBS this season with 200+ receiving yards and 2+ receiving touchdowns in a single game and is the only one to do so against a conference opponent.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and
running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff
Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's
outstanding wide receiver. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a finalist in 2020 and other tight ends were semifinalists in other years. Moreover, the Biletnikoff Award is a single season, not a career award.
The Biletnikoff Award's semifinalists, three finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 600 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers.