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On Aug. 7, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The Biletnikoff Award has been given annually to the nation's most outstanding receiver since 1994. Among those names were two Notre Dame pass catchers: wide receiver Kris Mitchell and tight end Mitchell Evans.
Biletnikoff Award
This award is named after Florida State legend Fred Biletnikoff, who played for the Seminoles from 1962-64. FSU's first ever consensus All-American, Biletnikoff set school career records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. As a junior, he played on both sides of the ball and led the team in both catches and interceptions.
After finishing his career with the Seminoles, Biletnikoff was selected in the second round of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, where he would be for the next 14 years. He won Super Bowl XI with the Raiders in 1976 and was voted the game's MVP. In 1988, Biletnikoff was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Last year's Biletnikoff Award winner was Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr., who caught 67 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 14 TDs. Harrison was selected as the fourth-overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Kris Mitchell, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame
Mitchell is a graduate transfer addition for the Irish who spent the last five seasons at FIU. Mitchell was the Panthers leading receiver in 2023, catching 64 passes for 1,118 yards and 7 TDs. In his final two games last season, Mitchell accounted for 14 catches for 273 yards and a TD against Arkansas and Western Kentucky.
Mitchell was rated as a three-star prospect out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was named Offensive MVP in his senior season. He will be an important piece this season for the Irish, who suffered a key injury along the offensive line during fall camp.
Mitchell Evans, Tight End, Notre Dame
As one of only two tight ends to make the Biletnikoff Watch List, Evans returns to Notre Dame for his senior season with big expectations. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Wadsworth, Ohio, native caught 29 passes for 422 yards and a TD in just eight games. Against Duke last year, Evans had 6 receptions for 134 yards as the Irish took down new Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard in dramatic fashion when he was a member of the Blue Devils.
Evans and Mitchell will be the biggest pass-catching weapons in Leonard's arsenal. The Irish also bring back running back Jeremyiah Love, who finished with more than 500 all-purpose yards and 2 TDs during his freshman campaign. The Irish begin their season on the road against Mike Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies on Aug. 31.
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