For the second year in a row, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree has won the Biletnikoff Award.
A 6-3, 214-pound sophomore from Dallas Carter, Crabtree became the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons. The award, handed out Thursday night in Orlando, Fla., goes to the nation's top receiver, and Crabtree proved he was ever bit of that again this season.
While helping the Red Raiders to an 11-1 record, Crabtree was seventh in the nation with 93 catches for 1,135 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 18 TD receptions were tied with Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant for second in the country behind the 19 Rice's Jarett Dillard collected.
Asked on ESPN about being one of the most accomplished wide receivers in the history of college football, Crabtree said: "I would say it's a true blessing and I've got to thank God for that one.And I can't leave out my quarterback in Graham Harrell.''
After becoming the first freshman to win the Biletnikoff Award last year, this year Crabtree beat out Missouri's Jeremy Maclin and OSU's Bryant for the award. Maclin had 95 catches for 1,221 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Bryant made 74 receptions for 1,313 yards and 18 TDs.
Asked about the 65-21 loss to Oklahoma over-shadowing an otherwise great season, Crabtree said: "It was a great year to be a Red Raider. I feel like we had fun and that's all that counts.
"As long as you have fun everything will go for itself. I had fun this year. You can ask Graham himself, we dreamed this in the summer and it came down to one game and we're going to take it like it is and look forward to the next game.''
_ Dwain Price
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