ULM Warhawks

MONROE, La. – ULM fifth-year senior Marcus Green, who led the Warhawks in receptions (55), receiving yards (847) and 100-yard receiving games (4) last season, has been named to the 2018 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, according to an announcement made Thursday, July 19 by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. The Biletnikoff Award has been presented annually to college football's outstanding receiver since 1994.
 
Green joins three other Sun Belt receivers – Georgia State's Penny Hart, South Alabama's Jamarius Way and Coastal Carolina's Malcolm Williams – on the 50-player watch list.
 
The 5-foot-8, 188-pound Green ranked among the league leaders in receiving yards (fourth at 70.6 ypg.) and receptions (tied for fifth at 4.6 rpg.). His five TD receptions ranked second on the team.
 
"Marcus Green has gained most of his notoriety as a kick returner and all-purpose player, but he's truly an outstanding receiver," ULM head coach Matt Viator said. "He's a precise route runner, with great hands. Marcus made a number of remarkable catches a year ago; however, it's his ability to make things happen after the catch that gives him the special edge.
 
"When Marcus catches the ball in space, he has a chance to take it to the end zone. He's a definite home-run threat with the ball in his hands."
 
Green recorded his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season at Florida State with eight catches for 106 yards. His eight receptions matched his season high.
 
He also had eight receptions for a career-best 193 yards against Arkansas State, including a 32-yard TD grab from Caleb Evans in the first quarter.
 
Green had two catches for 98 yards against Georgia State, including an 80-yard TD grab from Garrett Smith in the third quarter.
 
He hauled in five passes for 118 yards at Texas State, including a 67-yard TD reception from Evans early in the fourth quarter.
 
Green equaled his season-high with eight receptions for 117 yards in ULM's 56-50 double-overtime victory at Louisiana Lafayette.
 
The Pontotoc, Mississippi, native was named Second-Team All-American by Sporting News (athlete), Football Writers Association of America (all-purpose player), CollegeFootballNews.com (kick returner) and Pro Football Focus (kick returner) in 2017. Green earned All-Sun Belt First-Team honors as both a return specialist and all-purpose player, as selected by the league's head football coaches and media panel.
 
He accounted for a school single-season record 2,008 all-purpose yards and tied for the NCAA FBS lead with four kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2017. Green led the Sun Belt in all-purpose yards (167.3 yards per game) and kickoff returns (32.4 avg.). He also ranked among the NCAA FBS leaders in combined kick return yards (fourth at 977), all-purpose yards (third) and kickoff returns (third). His four kickoff returns for TDs represent ULM and Sun Belt single-season records. Green tied for the NCAA FBS lead with six scoring plays covering 70 or more yards, and he led the team with 37 explosive plays (20+ yards: 18 kickoff returns, 14 receptions, 3 rushes and 2 punt returns).
 
The award is named in honor of Fred Biletnikoff, a member of both the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. As a senior in 1964, he became the first consensus All-American in Florida State history after setting school single-season records for receptions (57), receiving yards (987) and touchdowns (11). His career totals don't include his record-setting performance (13 catches for 192 yards and four scores) in the Seminoles' 36-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 1964 Gator Bowl. He spent 14 seasons with the National Football League's Oakland Raiders (1965-78) and appeared in six Pro Bowls. Biletnikoff finished his pro career with 589 receptions for 8,974 yards and 76 TDs. A model of consistency, he caught 40 or more passes in 10 consecutive seasons. Biletnikoff was selected MVP of Super Bowl XI as Oakland defeated Minnesota, 32-14, in the Rose Bowl. He caught four passes for 79 yards against the Vikings, with three of his receptions setting up Oakland TDs.
 
Ten semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award will be announced on Nov. 12. Three finalists for the award will be identified on Nov. 20, with the winner announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The formal presentation of the award will be made at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet on Feb. 16, 2019, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.