BG's Barnes a finalist for Biletnikoff Award

11/24/2009
BY DONALD EMMONS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Barnes
Barnes

BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University's Freddie Barnes has been named one of three finalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to college football's top wide receiver.

Barnes, a senior, leads the nation in receiving with 129 catches for 1,482 yards, including 14 touchdown receptions. He is 13 receptions short of equaling the national record of 142 receptions in a season set by Houston's Manny Hazard in 1989.

Barnes, Jordan Shipley of Texas, and Golden Tate of Notre Dame make up the finalists list announced by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, which established the annual award.

Besides leading the country in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, Barnes also ranks No. 1 in the nation in receptions per game (11.7) and yards per game (134.7) heading into Friday's regular-season finale against rival Toledo at Doyt Perry Stadium.

Barnes has a school-record 271 career receptions and 3,002 career receiving yards, which rank second to Charles Sharon's 3,450.

His best single-game effort came in a 36-35 win at Kent State in which he pulled in 22 catches for 278 yards, including three touchdowns. He's produced five receptions over 50 yards and 22 catches over 20 yards this season. He has also strung together six straight games with at least 100 yards receiving and at least one touchdown.

The final voting is scheduled for Dec. 4, and the winner is expected to be announced Dec. 10 during the ESPN Award Show.