Jeremy Maclin Missouri sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has been named a finalist for the 2008 Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top receiver.  The award, will go to a Big 12 Conference receiver this year, as the other two finalists along with Maclin are Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech (the award winner in 2007) and Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State.

Maclin, who is the NCAA leader in all-purpose yardage (202.2 avg.) has emerged as one of the nation’s top wide receiving threats once again, as a key part of Mizzou’s passing attack which ranks 4 th in the country (349.36 ypg).  Maclin has caught 79 passes in 11 games for 1,052 yards and an MU-record 10 touchdowns in 2008.  He’s also rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a 25.6 average on kickoff returns (with one touchdown) and 9.9 yards on punt returns.

Maclin has averaged 111.2 yards and has 9 receiving touchdowns in his last nine games (73 receptions, 1,001 yards), and he’s been a key reason why Mizzou has won its second straight Big 12 Conference North Division championship.  He is one of only two players in the NCAA to have at least 175 yards in all four all-purpose categories, and is the only BCS-conference school to hold that distinction.  Maclin was a consensus 1 st -Team All-American in 2007 as a redshirt freshman in the all-purpose category.

The 2008 recipient of "The Biletnikoff" will be announced on December 11, 2008 at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show live on ESPN and presented at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet on February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, Fla.