Tennessee Athletics
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc., announced Thursday that Tennessee redshirt senior wide receiver Cedric Tillman has been named to the 2022 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List. Coming off a breakout campaign for the Big Orange last fall, Tillman is one of five receivers from the Southeastern Conference to be recognized on the initial listing.
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.
Tillman emerged as one of the SEC’s best playmakers in 2021, finishing the year with 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Las Vegas native rounded out his redshirt junior season ranking ninth in the SEC in catches, fifth in receiving yards, third in touchdowns and third in average yards per catch (16.9). He was especially productive against AP Top 25 competition, finishing fourth in the nation with 535 yards and four touchdowns against ranked foes.
In Tennessee single-season annals, Tillman ranked tied for eighth in catches, fourth in receiving yards and tied for second with Cedrick Wilson (2000) in touchdowns. He caught a TD pass in a school-record seven consecutive games to end the season, including a combined five in the final two games of the year.
Tillman notched five 100-yard receiving games, including four-straight to end the 2021 season. He capped his historic campaign with an emphatic performance at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue, reeling in seven catches for 150 yards and a school-record-tying three touchdowns. Tillman’s postseason performance in Nashville pushed him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season, becoming Tennessee’s eighth receiver to accomplish the feat and first since 2012.
The Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, finalists, and recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 640 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman Mark Ryan and the banquet keynote speaker at the black-tie Biletnikoff Award Banquet & Celebration at the Dunlap Champions Club, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Three former Vols have been tabbed as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award: Joey Kent (1996), Kelley Washington (2001) and Robert Meachem (2006).