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SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas – the nation’s top wide receiver tandem – have been named among the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced on Monday.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.

LSU has two Biletnikoff Award winners in its history – Josh Reed in 2001 and Ja’Marr Chase in 2019.

LSU is the only team in the nation with two players named to the list of semifinalists.

Nabers and Thomas forms college football’s top combination at wide receiver as they have combined to catch 135 passes for 2,445 yards and 26 touchdowns. Their 2,445 yards and 26 TDs are the most among any wide receiver combination in the FBS.

Individually, Nabers leads the nation in receiving yards with 1,424 and his 12 touchdowns rank fourth nationally. Nabers has 80 receptions to his credit, which leads the SEC and ranks No. 5 nationally.

Nabers has eight games with at least 100 receiving yards, which includes a 13-catch, 239-yard, 2-touchdown effort in the win over Mississippi State earlier this year. His eight 100-yard games in 2023 ties Justin Jefferson for No. 3 in school history, while his 1,424 yards is the fourth-highest total at LSU.

Nabers enters the Texas A&M game with 2,861 yards on 180 receptions. He’s looks to join Reed as the only 3,000-yard receivers in school history. Nabers currently ranks No. 2 on LSU’s career receiving list for yardage and needs only four receptions to break Wendell Davis’ school-record of 183 career receptions.

Thomas has caught at TD pass in eight games and leads the nation with 14 touchdowns. He has 55 receptions for 1,021 yards. It’s only the third time in school history LSU has had a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in the same season as they join Jarvis Landy and Odell Beckham Jr. in 2013 and Chase and Jefferson in 2019 in accomplishing the feat.

Nabers and Thomas have both topped the 100-yard mark in five games, including two straight heading into the Texas A&M season-finale on Saturday. Last week against Georgia State, Nabers had eight catches for 140 yards and two scores, while Thomas caught four passes for 103 yards and a score.

They are joined on the list of Biletnikoff Award semifinalists by Brock Bowers (TE), Georgia, Luther Burden III (WR), Missouri, Keon Coleman (WR), Florida State, Troy Franklin (WR), Oregon, Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR), Ohio State, Xavier Legette (WR), South Carolina, Rome Odunze (WR), Washington, and Malik Washington (WR), Virginia.

(Release via LSU Athletics)

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10 Comments
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Scotcho Libre15 months
Just award it to both of them as co-recipients.
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BayouBengal9915 months
I think both these guys have earned it. Just like in 2019 with Jefferson and Chase. They are different types of WRs but both are extremely talented and have earned this. Both have played well since joining the LSU program as well. I would imagine that Nabers has the better career stats, not that it matters but I’d say Nabers definitely deserves this. There’s no damn way you can snub these two guys for a popular name. Frick that! This is how I would look at it as a voter, if Marvin Harrison Jr’s name was Victor Shaw, would he be in this conversation? Frick no he wouldn’t so they better give this award to the WR who’s earned this.
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YeauxTigers15 months
I believe that Malik Nabers deserves this award. Has been critical on 3rd down all year long, is a big play maker and has the numbers. The challenge is to beat the media's push on Marvin Harrison Jr.
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PetroBabich15 months
The pose is meant to evoke both the athleticism of the receiver and suggest someone beginning to kneel to thank God for His gift of athletic prowess.
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cajunmud15 months
They need to redo that trophy to a 1-handed catch.
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Spelt it rong15 months
A one handed catch doesn't make you a great receiver... This trophy, depicting a receiver exhibiting full body control at the boundary while receiving a pass, is one of the most beautiful trophies handed out at the end of the season
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cajunmud15 months
Well, in 1993 or whenever this award was invented, that was probably the preeminent catch a receiver could make...the toe tap on the sideline.

As human athletic excellence has evolved, the preeminent catch now has to be the 1-handed grab (as displayed mostly by LSU receivers). The trophy should represent that...imo.
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Spelt it rong15 months
I disagree with you on that. It's cool, (and always brings forth a reaction from the crowd) but what about it displays that you're an elite receiver of the football? Again, the pose on the trophy is an embodiment of an individual showing control in all facets, not just one.

Just curious, how do you feel about all of the other individual trophies handed out? Butkus, Maxwell, etc?
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