Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Announces Fifth In-Season Addition to Prestigious College Football Award Watch List
TALLAHASSEE, FL — November 5, 2026 — The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation has announced another addition to the 2026 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, continuing its evaluation of the nation’s most outstanding college football receivers as the season approaches its final stretch.
The November 5 announcement marks the fifth round of in-season additions to the watch list, which was initially released on August 19, 2026.
One additional receiver was selected during this latest update, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to recognizing athletes based on their actual performance throughout the season.
The Biletnikoff Award is among college football’s most prestigious individual honors, presented annually to the outstanding receiver in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Unlike awards limited to traditional wide receivers, the Biletnikoff Award considers any eligible player who catches passes, regardless of position.
Biletnikoff Award Watch List Continues to Grow
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation regularly updates its watch list as the college football season progresses.
The organization emphasizes that selections are based on demonstrated performance rather than preseason expectations, recruiting rankings, or projected potential.
This approach allows players who emerge during the season to receive national recognition even if they were not included on the original preseason list.
The November 5 announcement adds one more receiver to the 2026 field.
The name of the newly added player was not included in the text of the announcement provided to Habari News.
Fans can review the updated candidates through the official Biletnikoff Award website.
Award Recognizes More Than Traditional Wide Receivers
One of the distinguishing features of the Biletnikoff Award is its broad eligibility criteria.
The award recognizes the outstanding FBS receiver for a single college football season, regardless of the player’s primary position.
Eligible athletes may include wide receivers, tight ends, slot backs, and running backs who contribute through pass receptions.
The foundation emphasizes that the award evaluates receiving performance during the current season rather than career accomplishments.
An example of the award’s broad eligibility is former Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, who was selected as a finalist in 2020.
Other tight ends have also earned semifinalist recognition.
The foundation publishes its detailed candidate eligibility and voting criteria for public review.
National Selection Committee Includes 625 Football Experts
The Biletnikoff Award recipient is selected by a national committee consisting of 625 prominent figures from the football community.
The committee includes college football journalists, commentators, announcers, former receivers, and previous Biletnikoff Award winners.
Members evaluate candidates and vote to determine the award’s semifinalists, three finalists, and eventual winner.
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation states that its trustees do not participate in the voting process.
This separation is intended to maintain independence between the foundation’s administration of the award and the selection of recipients.
The organization also makes information about its national selection committee publicly available.
USC’s Makai Lemon Won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award
The 2026 competition follows a memorable year for University of Southern California receiver Makai Lemon, who captured the 2025 Biletnikoff Award.
Lemon received his trophy during the 32nd Biletnikoff Award Banquet and Celebration on March 28, 2026, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee.
The sold-out black-tie event welcomed approximately 700 attendees.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley introduced Lemon during the ceremony.
TQC Foundation Chairman John Harris Jr. presented the award with assistance from College Football Hall of Famer Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, who served as the keynote speaker.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Marvin Goldstein also performed a musical tribute honoring Lemon and America.
The annual banquet has become a significant event in the college football awards calendar, bringing together athletes, coaches, former NFL stars, and supporters of the foundation’s charitable work.
Legendary NFL Receivers Among Previous Winners
The Biletnikoff Award has a distinguished history of recognizing players who later achieved success in professional football.
Notable past recipients include:
- Randy Moss
- Larry Fitzgerald
- Calvin Johnson
- Michael Crabtree
- Amari Cooper
- Golden Tate
- Brandin Cooks
- Terry Glenn
- Ja’Marr Chase
- DeVonta Smith
Many former recipients went on to become Pro Bowl players, All-Pros, or prominent figures in the National Football League.
Their careers demonstrate the award’s history of identifying outstanding receiving talent at the collegiate level.
Honoring the Legacy of Fred Biletnikoff
The award is named after Fred Biletnikoff, one of football’s most accomplished receivers.
Biletnikoff earned consensus first-team All-America honors at Florida State University before beginning a successful professional career with the Oakland Raiders.
During his 14-year NFL career from 1965 through 1978, Biletnikoff recorded:
- 589 receptions
- 8,974 receiving yards
- 76 receiving touchdowns
- Super Bowl XI Most Valuable Player honors
He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His achievements established the legacy that the award continues to celebrate.
Foundation Has Awarded More Than $7 Million in Scholarships
Beyond recognizing excellence on the football field, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation maintains an extensive charitable mission.
Established in 1994, the nonprofit organization provides college and vocational scholarships to North Florida high school seniors who have overcome significant challenges while demonstrating academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
Participation in athletics is not required to qualify for scholarship consideration.
According to the foundation, its all-volunteer organization has awarded more than 360 scholarships, representing over $7 million in benefits through 2026.
Walter Manley II, a founding trustee and longtime fundraising chairman, has announced a goal of reaching $10 million in cumulative scholarship awards by 2030.
The foundation’s work combines recognition of athletic achievement with financial support for students pursuing higher education and career development.
College Football’s Top Receivers Continue Their Pursuit of the Award
As the 2026 season progresses, the Biletnikoff Award Watch List remains open to additional candidates whose performances warrant consideration.
The foundation’s emphasis on current-season results means that strong performances during the remaining games could influence future additions and voting decisions.
With a national selection committee evaluating the candidates, the competition remains an important part of college football’s individual awards season.
For receivers across the FBS, inclusion on the watch list represents national recognition of their contributions and an opportunity to compete for one of the sport’s most respected honors.
Habari Sports will continue following the 2026 Biletnikoff Award race as additional candidates, semifinalists, finalists, and the eventual winner are announced.
Source: Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, November 5, 2026, official press release.
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