Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling secured a spot on the 2024 Biletnikoff Award nominee list on Wednesday.
Pauling was named to the watch list on the same day that offensive linemen Chez Mellusi and Jake Renfro were named to the watch list for the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year. Long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer, defensive back Ricardo Hallman, safety Hunter Wohler and kicker Nathanial Vakos were also named to the Badgers’ watch list ahead of the fall season.
While many awards in college football are position-based, the Biletnikoff is given to all pass receivers regardless of position and is considered the most common award for wide receivers in the country.
Previous winners include Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Jordan Addison (USC), Devonta Smith (Alabama), Ja’Marr Chase (LSU), Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), Amari Cooper (Alabama) and Brandin Cooks (Oregon State).
This guy is Willy P.@Will_Paul6 is on @biletnikoffawrd Watchlist that recognizes the ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง’๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ regardless of the position. pic.twitter.com/pA1xNDG0BM
โ Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) 7 August 2024
Pauling will enter his second season in Madison as one of UW’s most productive offensive weapons. He started all 13 games for Wisconsin in 2023 and led the unit with 74 catches, 837 yards and six touchdowns.
The Chicago native also showed off his skills as a catcher when it mattered most. Pauling led the Big Ten with 27 third-down catches, a luxury when you have opportunities to convert balls from close quarters.
He will look to build on his stellar performance in 2023 when the Badgers begin the 2024 season on August 30 against Western Michigan.
