Pharoh Cooper Named to Biletnikoff Watch List

July 15, 2015

University of South Carolina wide receiver Pharoh Cooper has been named to the 2015 Biletnikoff Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., announced today.

Cooper, a junior from Havelock, N.C., is coming off a breakout season in which he earned first-team All-SEC honors as a wide receiver and was a second-team pick as an all-purpose back. He finished third in the SEC in receptions (69), second in receiving yards (1,136) and receiving yards per game (87.4), fourth in receptions per game (5.3) and ninth in all-purpose yards per game (108.5).

Cooper has previously been named to the 2015 watch lists for the Maxwell and Hornung awards.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football. 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 the outstanding receiver, not merely outstanding wide receiver. The award recipient is selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group 275 prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. Additional receivers are periodically added to the watch list as their season performances dictate.

According to TQC Foundation Chairman Richard Chichetti, “Given the significant number of excellent college receivers returning this season, coupled with talented receivers who have heretofore played very little or are returning from injury, the contest for the 2015 Biletnikoff Award will be exciting and the award within the grasp of many outstanding receivers.”

The 2015 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on December 10, 2015, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast 7:00 – 9:00pm (EST) on ESPN. College Football Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard will present the 2015 Biletnikoff Award winner on the show.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., will announce the ten Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on November 16, 2015, following the vote by the 275 members of the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on November 24, 2015. For complete details and updates of interest, together with weekly statistics and timely, important news of the Biletnikoff Award candidates, as well as a fan vote and discussion board, please consult the Foundation’s highly informative website at www.biletnikoffaward.com. Foundation Selection Committee Co-Chairman Ritchie Pickron notes, “The 2015 Biletnikoff Award Pre-Season Watch List contains an extremely talented field, consistent with the importance of the passing game in college football.” Selection Committee Co-Chairman Bill Hilaman seconded Pickron’s opinion: “Receiver has become the glamour position in college offenses; the great athletes are drawn to the receiver position, thereby significantly increasing the number of excellent college receivers at numerous positions.”