NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt receiving standouts Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney have been named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award.
Lipscomb, a senior wide receiver from New Orleans, and Pinkney, a redshirt senior tight end from Norcross, Georgia, are among 50 players across the country named to the watch list. The Biletnikoff Award is given annually to the nation’s top receiver. Wide receivers, tight ends and running backs are eligible for consideration.
This marks the second consecutive year that Lipscomb has received Biletnikoff consideration. It is the first time for Pinkney, who is one of just four tight ends on the watch list.
Vanderbilt is one of just seven teams nationally to have multiple players on the Biletnikoff list. The others are Alabama, Clemson, Hawaii, Oklahoma, SMU and Southern California.
Lipscomb, who prepped at Jesuit (La.) High School, is coming off one of the best seasons ever by a Vanderbilt receiver. He registered an SEC-leading 87 receptions in 2018, amassing 916 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Lipscomb’s receptions total from a year ago is the fourth highest in team history.
Lipscomb, who also has been named as a preseason first team All-SEC recipient by four publications, enters his senior campaign among Vanderbilt’s all-time top-10 in several receiving categories. He has 151 receptions, 1,845 receiving yards and 19 touchdown catches. Lipscomb is just six touchdowns catches away from breaking Jordan Matthews’ school record.
Pinkney, a product of Norcross (Ga.) High School, ranks as the most productive Vanderbilt tight end since the 1980’s. In 2018, he posted 50 catches, 774 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Pinkney’s receiving yardage total leads all returning tight ends nationally.
For his career, Pinkney has amassed 94 catches, 1,327 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches. He has earned preseason All-America recognition from The Sporting News and Phil Steele, and been included on virtually every preseason All-SEC ballot.
The 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented Dec 12 on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards.
Former recipients of the Biletnikoff Award, which is given by the Florida-based Tallahassee Quarterback Club, include Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech), Randy Moss (Marshall), Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), Amari Cooper (Alabama), and Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh).
The award recipient is selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers.
The Commodores open the year hosting SEC opponent Georgia Aug. 31 in Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff for the opener is at 6:30 p.m.
Besides Georgia, Vanderbilt’s home schedule includes LSU on Sept. 21, Northern Illinois on Sept. 28, UNLV on Oct. 12, Missouri on Oct. 19, Kentucky on Nov. 16 and East Tennessee State on Nov. 23.
Season tickets for the 2019 are available at the same rates as a year ago. Season-ticket packages for the Commodores’ seven-game home schedule starts at only $308 for premium sideline seats and $178 for reserve end zone sections of Vanderbilt Stadium. Tickets can be purchased here.
