GREENVILLE – East Carolina senior outside receiver Lance Lewis has been named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List according to an announcement by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. The award is given to the top receiver in college football.
Lewis is the third Pirate this week to make a watch list as quarterback Dominique Davis was placed on the Maxwell Award (most outstanding player) chart and Michael Barbour was selected to the Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award list.
After joining the Pirates in August from East Mississippi Community College, Lewis turned in a record-breaking campaign. He started all 13 games and finished with 89 receptions, 1,116 yards and a single-season East Carolina record 14 touchdowns. Lewis was rewarded with a Second-Team All-Conference USA selection by the league’s head coaches and Rivals.com while garnering third-team All-C-USA honors from Phil Steele Magazine.
The expectations for Lewis are high heading into 2011 as he has already been named one of the top 100 college football players by Rivals.com.
The Concord, N.C., native has been selected as a first-team preseason all-conference performer by Phil Steele Magazine, Lindy’s Magazine, Athlon Magazine and Blue Ribbon Football Yearbook. In addition, Lindy’s Magazine labeled Lewis the “8th-best NFL talent” in C-USA. He is also on the Consensus Draft Services Preseason All-America Team and a member of the College Football Performance Awards Wide Receiver Trophy Watch List.
A year ago, Lewis’ reception and yard totals were the second most in a year in ECU history, trailing only Dwayne Harris’ 2010 totals. Lewis finished the campaign ranked second in C-USA in receptions per game (6.8) and fourth in receiving yards per game (85.8) while standing 12th at the FBS level in receptions per game, 16th in total reception yards and 20th in receiving yards per game.
During the second half of the season, Lewis was the Pirates’ top receiver with 52 grabs for 661 yards (110.2 ypg) and seven touchdowns. He caught 12 touchdown passes in last 10 games and surpassed the 100-yard threshold in four of the final five contests. A big-play threat, he ended the year third on the team with 11 plays of 20 or more yards, including a team-best six scores.
Joining Lewis on the watch list from C-USA are Houston’s Patrick Edwards, SMU’s Cole Beasley and Darius Johnson, Southern Miss’ Kelvin Bolden, Tulane’s Ryan Grant and Tulsa’s Damaris Johnson.
The award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, the Florida State University All-America receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer. It has been given out since 1994 with last year’s winner being Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon. This season, the Biletnikoff Award recipient will be announced as part of ESPN’s College Football Awards Show December 8.