Martin Nance Named Semifinalist For Biletnikoff Award
11/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2005
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-- Miami University senior wide receiver Martin Nance has been honored as one of 15 wide receivers nationally to be named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top wide receiver. Nance, who ranks among the national leaders in receptions and receiving touchdowns, is the first Miami wide receiver to earn the honor.
Nance enters Miami's regular-season finale versus Ohio University next week, leading the RedHawks with 73 receptions and a program single-season record 14 touchdown catches. The 6-foot-5 standout, who has bounced back from a season-ending knee injury a year ago, has topped 100 yards receiving six times this season and has hauled in at least one touchdown catch in his last nine games, including five games with multiple TD receptions. He ranks in a first-place tie nationally in touchdown receptions, while his 7.30 receptions per game rate in a sixth-place tie nationally. His 98.4 yards receiving per game also rank among the nation's Top 15.
Despite having played less than three seasons as a starting wide receiver for the RedHawks, Nance is the only player in program history to surpass 3,000 yards career receiving, totaling 3,008. His 200 receptions are tied with former teammate Michael Larkin (2001-04) for the program record, while his 26 career touchdown receptions rank second in Miami's career annals. He has totaled an impressive 14 100-yard games during his career and needs just 16 yards receiving to become the first player in RedHawk history to record multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Started in 1994, the Biletnikoff Award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, an All-American at Florida State University who went on to enjoy a prolific career with the Oakland Raiders. Last season, the award went to former University of Michigan standout Braylon Edwards.
Nance joins Bowling Green's Charles Sharon and Western Michigan's Greg Jennings as the three receivers from the Mid-American Conference to earn semifinalist status. The complete list follows.
2005 Biletnikoff Award Semifinalists
Calvin Johnson, Georgia Institute of Technology; Chad Jackson, University of Florida; Charles Sharon, Bowling Green State University;Demetrius Williams, University of Oregon; Derek Hagan, Arizona State University; Dwayne Jarrett, University of Southern California; Greg Jennings, Western Michigan University; Hank Baskett, University of New Mexico; Jason Avant, University of Michigan; Jason Hill, Washington State University; Jeff Smardzija, University of Notre Dame; Jovon Bouknight, University of Wyoming; Martin Nance, Miami University; Mike Hass, Oregon State University; Steve Smith, University of Southern California
