Tutu Atwell is racking up preseason honors. On Wednesday, he was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by Phil Steele. Now he finds himself on the watch list for the Prestigious Biletnikoff Award.
👀 WATCH LIST SZN 👀@biletnikoffawrd Watch List – @c5_atwell #GoCards pic.twitter.com/bWxwNsU0RK
— Louisville Football (@UofLFootball) July 16, 2020
Atwell is highly deserving to be on this watch list. The junior wideout had a spectacular 2019 season. His season involved breaking one school receiving record and tying another. The 5’9 Miami Northwestern product had 70 receptions for 1276 yards. Those total receiving yards broke the previous single-season record held by Cardinal Forever Harry Douglas. He tied the single-season TD reception mark for a single season with 12. The end of the season brought accolades that included being named a First Team All-American by Pro Football Focus and being named First Team All-ACC.
Atwell is now on a list for a highly prestigious football award. The Biletnikoff Award has been given annually since 1994 and was instituted by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. Among its many recipients are NFL stars, Hall of Famers, and likely future Hall of Famers; names like Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Amari Cooper. Some of the names listed along with Atwell on this year’s preseason watch list include LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, Purdue’s Rondale Moore (a Louisville native), and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith.
By the way, fans do have a say in who gets the award. Below is a timeline of voting and the announcement of the winner. So, if you want to have a say on whether Tutu wins, make sure you’re ready to vote on September 22nd:
To read more about Tutu Atwell and his inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list, read the UofL press release below.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
Atwell Named to the Biletnikoff AwardWatch List
Tutu Atwell set the school record for receiving yards last season with 1,276.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2020
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville junior wide receiver Tutu Atwell has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, it was announced on Thursday by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc. The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the season’s outstanding college football receiver regardless of position.
Atwell is one of 55 players on the watch list for the award given to the nation’s top wide receiver.
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 Saturday, March 6, 2021.
A native of Miami, Fla., Atwell led the ACC in receiving yards and set the school’s single-season mark with 1,276 yards and equaled a school record with 12 touchdown receptions. He also knotted the school record with seven 100-yard receiving games and led the nation with four receptions of 70 or more yards.
Atwell closed the season with a career high nine receptions for 147 yards in the 2019 Music City Bowl win over Mississippi State and registered a career best 152 receiving yards in a win over Syracuse last season. The 5-foot-9 speedster recorded his first three-touchdown game in a 38-21 win over Western Kentucky last year.
The Cardinals are set to kick off the 2020 season at home on Wednesday, Sept. 2 against NC State. Game details have yet to be determined.
