Cooks Added to Biletnikoff Watch List

Oregon State sophomore flanker Brandin Cooks was among 11 players added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List Tuesday as was announced by the the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The award annually recognizes the outstanding receiver in college football.

Cooks, a native of Stockton, Calif., has started all three games in 2012 and six in his career and is quickly establishing himself as one of the Beavers' top playmakers on offense. Cooks, along with fellow receiver Markus Wheaton - who is also on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List - have formed one of the top receiving duos in college football early in the season.

Through three games, Cooks has 21 receptions (third in the Pac-12 and 17th in the nation) for 404 yards (first and fifth) and two touchdowns in helping the Beavers to the fourth-most prolific passing offense in the nation. Just one year removed from a 3-9 season, Cooks has helped lead the Beavers to a 3-0 start and a No. 14 ranking in this week's Associated Press poll.

The award recipient is selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of more than 180 prominent football journalists, commentators, and receivers. Past winners of the Biletnikoff Award include NFL greats Randy Moss (1997), Larry Fitzgerald (2003) and Calvin Johnson (2006) and Oregon State standout Mike Hass in 2005.

The 2012 winner will be presented live on Dec. 6, 2012, on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show to be broadcast on ESPN.

The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. will announce the 10 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists on Nov. 12, 2012, following the vote by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee. Likewise, the three finalists will be declared, following another vote, on Nov. 19, 2012.