The 2012 preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award was released this week and four local players made the cut. Among the 48 players selected were Pitt's Devin Street and Mike Shanahan, and West Virginia's Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin.
↵Bailey and Austin could have an outside chance at the award. Both had more than 1,100 yards receiving last year and piled up a ton of numbers with quarterback Geno Smith slinging balls all over the field. With Smith back, both could again be in for another huge season statistically. Ironically, though, their biggest hurdle to garnering serious consideration may be each other. There's only one football and if the duo splits receptions fairly evenly, it will be difficult for one to put up the type of numbers needed to win the award.
↵Street and Shanahan will likely be hard pressed to compete for the award. Neither topped 1,000 yards last season and with Ray Graham, Rushel Shell, and Isaac Bennett in the backfield, Pitt's game plan will clearly be to run the ball. It's possible one of them breaks out a bit, but it's hard to see either compiling monster totals.
↵For more on Pitt football, check out Cardiac Hill. For West Virginia, visit The Smoking Musket.