Six Big East players were named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award last week, an award annually given to the nation's top wide receiver. The players on the watch list are: Tavon Austin (West Virginia), Van Chew (Syracuse), Mark Harrison (Rutgers), Mike Shanahan (Pittsburgh), Michael Smith (Connecticut) and D.J. Woods (Cincinnati)
The last Big East receiver to win the Biletnikoff was Pitt's Larry Fitzgerald, who won the award back in 2003. However, Smith will not win the award as he will redshirt after being declared academically ineligible for the 2011 season.