Troy Franklin snubbed? Oregon wide receiver left off list of finalists for Biletnikoff Award
Troy Franklin is No. 3 in the country in receiving yardage this season. He’s tied for second in touchdown receptions.
He is not a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football’s best receiver. The award announced on Tuesday that, from its list of 10 semifinalists, Washington’s Rome Odunze, LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. have been selected as the three finalists. Franklin did not make the cut.
Here are the season stats for each of the three finalists, as well as Franklin:
- Malik Nabers: 86 receptions, 1,546 yards, 14 touchdowns, nine 100-yard games, one 200-yard game
- Rome Odunze: 73 receptions, 1,326 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight 100-yard games
- Marvin Harrison Jr.: 67 receptions, 1,211 yards, 14 touchdowns, eight 100-yard games
- Troy Franklin: 77 receptions, 1,349 yards, 14 touchdowns, eight 100-yard games
Unlike Nabers and Harrison, Franklin also has an opportunity to build on his numbers this weekend when his team participates in champ week. Oregon plays Washington for the Pac-12 Championship. Neither LSU nor Ohio State will play in their respective conference title games.
Interestingly, two of the three expected Heisman finalists have a receiver on the list for the Biletnikoff. The third expected Heisman finalist, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, has been knocked as a “checkdown merchant,” which would seemingly mean his receivers are doing more work after the catch than anyone.
But Franklin isn’t up for the award that goes to the top receiver. That seems a little off.
Additional fun fact: Franklin has a deeper average depth of target (13.1 yards) than LSU’s Nabers (12.4). There’s a lot of noise coming from that part of the country that Oregon doesn’t look downfield.
As expected, Oregon fans weren’t happy their guy was left off. Neither was former Oregon receiver Seven McGee. Even a Washington fan chimed in and threw their support behind Franklin.
https://twitter.com/McgeeSeven/status/1729578793633796548
Howww??? Ain’t no way Troy ain’t make it🤯 https://t.co/1DcV3nsP3S
— BigMacc🥷🏿 (@IamDTJ11) November 28, 2023
Make it make sense @biletnikoffawrd pic.twitter.com/K7kliU0PBX
— Austin 🦆 (@deviousduck_) November 28, 2023
Listen, I hate Oregon as much as the next guy but Franklin should definitely be on this list over MHJ
— Bruce (@uwdawgs4life) November 28, 2023
The exclusion of @TroooyyyyyyTroy is criminal by @biletnikoffawrd 😡😤 pic.twitter.com/QWXQMV9XR3
— ReignzSupreme (@ReignzSupreme) November 28, 2023
How is Oregon WR Troy Franklin NOT a Biletnikoff Award Finalist?! 😤😱 SNUBBED!
Troy Franklin this year 🦆
77 Receptions
1,349 Receiving Yards
17.5 YPR
14 Receiving TDsWasn’t named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
In comparison:
Rome Odunze
73 Receptions
1,326… pic.twitter.com/lx3DbHC6BK— DuckZone503 (@DuckZone503) November 28, 2023
They just announced the Biletnikoff award finalists….Troy Franklin isn’t on the list…. pic.twitter.com/buAYnX127W
— Dapper (@DistrictDapper) November 28, 2023
And this is another example of college awards being a joke popularity contest. Troy Franklin deserves to be a finalist https://t.co/r0aUIn7V6i
— Adam Kilby (@Kilbster) November 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/duckscrootin/status/1729552242628325647
troy on friday pic.twitter.com/uBkNmm29qf
— ً (@alechickman) November 28, 2023