As Jayden Daniels fights to get recognition for a season worthy of the Heisman Trophy despite LSU’s struggles, he isn’t the only Tiger fighting an uphill battle for award consideration.
So, too, is junior wide receiver Malik Nabers. One of the most prolific receivers in the country this year, Nabers is one of the frontrunners for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given each season to the best pass catcher in the nation.
The Biletnikoff can technically go to any player that’s eligible to receive a pass, including a running back or tight end, but only wide receivers have won it in the past, including LSU’s Josh Reed (2002) and Ja’Marr Chase (2019).
The Biletnikoff semifinalists, usually a group of between 10 and 12 receivers, will be announced on Nov. 20, with the three finalists announced on Nov. 28. On Dec. 8, the winner will be revealed as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards.
There are currently 62 eligible players on the Biletnikoff watch list, including LSU receivers Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Nabers, however, is listed as the second-most likely to win the award by most betting odds. A key part of LSU’s nation-leading offense, Nabers has been elite all year in every facet of the game.
He’s beaten defensive backs off the line, created separation with his speed, made people miss in the open field and come up with contested catches. There hasn’t been a hole in his game.
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Nabers leads the country in receiving yards with 1284 on 72 receptions, tied for No. 7 in the country. He has 10 touchdown grabs, also tied for No. 7 in the country.
He also leads the country in plays from scrimmage of 10 yards or more, as well as plays of 20 yards or more and 30 yards or more. He’s been explosive; when he catches a ball, it’s almost always for a first down, and likely a whole lot more.
Nabers has done this against some of the best defensive backs in the country, including Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Missouri’s Kris Abrams-Draine, against whom Nabers had 171 and 146 yards, respectively.
There’s just one receiver considered ahead of Nabers in the Biletnikoff race: Marvin Harrison Jr.
The son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, Harrison Jr. has been incredibly productive for Ohio State for the last few seasons. Last year, he finished as a Biletnikoff finalist with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns, but finished behind winner Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee.
With the departure of Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the NFL, Harrison Jr. is now Ohio State’s undisputed top option in his junior year. He has 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns (just one behind Thomas Jr.’s nation-leading 13) for a team currently ranked No. 1 in the CFP rankings. Some have even advocated for Heisman consideration for Harrison Jr., rare for a wide receiver.
It hasn’t all been easy for Harrison Jr. His quarterback from last year, CJ Stroud, is now playing in the NFL, and replacement Kyle McCord has had ups and downs.
Harrison Jr. has had to carry the offense at times. Some have argued that, with a quarterback like Daniels, his numbers would be as good or better than Nabers.
That argument holds no water: the Biletnikoff award claims to not be projective. According to its website, the criteria is based on performance, not potential. All that matters is what the players have done, not what they might’ve done in another situation.
Some have also claimed Harrison Jr. should be the frontrunner because of Ohio State’s team success. The Buckeyes are undefeated and LSU, of course, has three losses.
As with Daniels’ case, that’s irrelevant. The LSU offense has been championship-caliber, the best in the country, thanks largely to Nabers’ influence–both what he can do with the ball and the attention he attracts without it.
The Tigers’ losses haven’t been Nabers’ fault.
Nabers and Harrison Jr. are close enough statistically that there’s an argument to be made either way. Nabers has more yards, Harrison Jr. has more touchdowns.
The real reason, then, that Harrison Jr. has the edge is reputation. He entered the season as the favorite for the Biletnikoff, widely regarded as the best wide receiver in the country. Nabers was coming off a 1,000-yard season in his own right, but he wasn’t considered anywhere near as prominent.
There are other receivers in the conversation for the Biletnikoff, like Missouri’s Luther Burden III, Washington’s Rome Odunze and Oregon’s Troy Franklin.
They’re within reasonable range of Nabers and Harrison Jr.’s numbers, although it would take a few explosive games down the stretch to close the gap.
Still, for all intents and purposes, it’s a two-horse race at this point between Nabers and Harrison Jr.
It will likely come down to the final few games. Nabers has opportunities against Georgia State and Texas A&M, while Harrison Jr. will face Minnesota and Michigan.
Nabers could separate himself statistically down the stretch, but Harrison Jr. has a chance to have a big performance with everyone watching in one of the most consequential games of the year against Michigan.
Depending on how that game goes, he could have another shot at performing on a big stage in the Big Ten championship.
That will be hard for Nabers to overcome. Narratives are important in close award races, and as great as Nabers has been this year, his numbers aren’t sufficiently better than Harrison Jr.’s to counteract that.
Regardless of whether or not Nabers wins the award, he’s clearly carved out a place as one of the best receivers in LSU history.
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