TU's Josh Atkinson Named To Biletnikoff Preseason Watch List

The University of Tulsa senior receiver Josh Atkinson, who went over 1,000 receiving yards a year ago, was named to the preseason watch list for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate receiver, as announced today by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
 
Atkinson is one of 53 candidates named to the preseason list, while additional candidates will be added as their season performances dictate. One of those possible candidates is Atkinson’s receiving-mate Keevan Lucas, who was on the 2015 Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list, but played in just the first four games last year before being sidelined with a season-ending injury.
 
Atkinson is one of only four American Athletic Conference players named to the Biletnikoff watch list. The others include Chance Allen (Houston), Isaiah Jones (East Carolina) and Courtland Sutton (SMU).
 
A three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for the Golden Hurricane, Atkinson caught 76 passes for 1,071 yards for a 14.1 average and five touchdowns in 2015. He had career-highs of 11 receptions for 139 yards and one TD against Virginia Tech in the Camping World Independence Bowl.
 
Atkinson has six career 100+ receiving games, all coming in 2015, and five of those were consecutive. He has played in 34 career games with 20 starts and has caught 124 career passes for 1,596 yards and six TDs for a 12.9 average per catch.