Oklahoma State University Athletics
Blackmon, Hunter, Bailey Are Awards Finalists
November 22, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Nov. 22, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, running back Kendall Hunter and kicker Dan Bailey are all major awards finalists, it was announced today. Blackmon is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's top wide receiver, Hunter is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award given to the nation's top running back and Bailey is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award given to America's top kicker.
The Cowboy trio will travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to participate in the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9, where the recipient of the awards will be announced.
Blackmon enters this week's game against Oklahoma as the national leader in total receiving yards (1,560), receiving yards per game (156.0), receiving touchdowns (17) and total touchdowns (19). He is second nationally with 9.4 receptions per game and is third nationally with 11.4 points scored per game. He has already set an OSU record with a touchdown reception in 10 straight games and at least 100 receiving yards in 10 straight games. His yardage total already represents the second best total in school history. He has at least 125 receiving yards in every game this season. He has been involved in 23 plays of at least 29 yards, and he has eight plays of at least 40 yards.
Hunter leads the Big 12 and ranks among the top five nationally with 1,461 total rushing yards, 132.8 rushing yards per game and 16 rushing touchdowns. He is third in the league and 16th nationally with 150.0 all-purpose yards per game and is fourth in the league and 22nd nationally with 8.7 points scored per game. Hunter is fourth all-time at OSU with 4,094 rushing yards and fourth with 37 rushing touchdowns. He is the nation's third active leading rusher and is No. 9 in career rushing TDs among all active players.
Bailey dotted several mid-season All-America teams and he has continued his special season. He is 22-of-26 on three-point tries and his 22 field goals are a school single-season record. He hit the walk-off 40-yard game winner in the 38-35 win over Texas A&M and he booted two field goals of 52 yards at Louisiana (the first Cowboy to hit two from 52 in the same game since 2001). He holds the school record with 182 consecutive extra-point conversions (that streak ended with a block at Texas). Bailey passed Barry Sanders to take sole possession of first place on Oklahoma State's career scoring chart when he converted a second-quarter point-after touchdown in the Cowboys' 33-16 win at Texas. For his career, he has 347 points. In 2010, Bailey is second nationally in scoring with 11.45 points per game.
Oklahoma State has been a staple at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show in recent years, as punter Matt Fodge won the 2008 Ray Guy Award, wide receiver Dez Bryant was the 2008 Biletnikoff Award runner-up and offensive lineman Russell Okung was a finalist for the 2009 Outland Trophy.
2010 Biletnikoff Award Finalists
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
2010 Doak Walker Award Finalists
John Clay, Wisconsin
Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
LaMichael James, Oregon
2010 Lou Groza Award Finalists
Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State
Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss
David Ruffer, Notre Dame
