This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Although they will have difficulty replacing Cody Hoffman, the Cougars should have a deep receiving corps this season with the additions of Devon Blackmon, Jordan Leslie and Nick Kurtz, the move of Michael Davis back to receiver and the returns of Terenn Houk, Ross Apo, Kurt Henderson and Mitch Mathews. However, the 2014 Biletnikoff Watch List was released on Tuesday morning, and no Cougars are on the list. Utah's Dres Anderson is the only local receiver on the list. Of course, the Cougars won't face Anderson this season. But they will face 10 receivers on the Biletknikoff Award List: UNLV's Devante Davis, UConn's Geremy Davis, Cal's Chris Harper, Houston's Deontay Greenberry and Daniel Spencer, Boise State's Matt Miller, Central Florida's Rannell Hall and Breshad Perriman, Texas' Jaxon Shipley, Boise State's Matt Miller and Nevada's Richy Turner. At least the quarterback expected to throw the ball to the wideouts and tight ends this season is getting some preseason recognition. Actually, Taysom Hill is getting a ton of hype. Tuesday, Hill was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He's one of 182 nominees for the award. The list will be cut to 22 players in September. In the past, Jan Jorgensen, Michael Alisa and Riley Nelson have made the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for BYU. Hill, from Pocatello, Idaho, is on five preseason watch lists and also made the Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team. Monday, three BYU players — Alani Fua, Bronson Kaufusi and Remington Peck — were named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List. Fua was also named to the Butkus Award Watch List. The Lombardi Award goes to the lineman or linebacker "who shows leadership, courage, desire, respect for authority and discipline. The Butkus Trophy goes to the nation's best linebacker based on performance on the field and overall character.