Colorado wide receiver Joseph Williams added to Biletnikoff Award watch list

Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Joseph Williams was one of 14 players added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, per an announcement by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation on Wednesday.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.

Williams, a Tulsa transfer, is in the midst of his second season with Deion Sanders and the Buffs. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is one of the most efficient wide receivers in the country. He has racked up 32 receptions for 454 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. He's ranked in the top 15 for all three stats.

As of now, Williams is on track for a career year in Boulder. Despite the quarterback shuffle with Sanders benching Julian Lewis in favor of Isaac Wilson, the Buffs top receiver has found a way to overcome any issues with the change. He's also been a reliable target for both quarterbacks thus far.

Williams ranks in the top 3 for the Big 12 in receptions, yards after catch, and touchdowns. He's been one of the bright spots for the Buffs offense and continues to improve approaching the midway point in the 2026 college football season. He earned second team Phil Steele preseason All Big 12 honors before entering his junior season. He has four games this season with over 80 yards receiving and at least a touchdown.

The last Colorado player to win the Biletnikoff Award was Travis Hunter during his outstanding 2024 season. The two-way star swept all the major college football awards, including becoming the Buffs' second Heisman Trophy winner. He remains the only Biletnikoff winner to also be a full-time defender, putting him as one of the rarest in history. No other player in the past century played on both sides of the ball consistently.

Hunter had 96 receptions with 1,258 yards and 16 total touchdowns during his final season at CU. He went on to be the NFL's highest-drafted cornerback at No. 2 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025.

Colorado is in the midst of a bye week and will welcome No. 12 Utah into Boulder for the latest edition of the Rumble and the Rockies rivalry next Saturday (10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN or ESPN2). This will be the 73rd meeting for the Buffs and Utes, and third as members of the Big 12.

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