LSU WR CJ Daniels Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Daniels enters his first season in Baton Rouge, ready to adjust his game to SEC caliber competition.

Jan 1, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Liberty Flames wide receiver CJ Daniels (4) attempts to catch a pass as Oregon Ducks defensive back Evan Williams (33) defends him in the first quarter of the 2024 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

First-year LSU wide receiver CJ Daniels has been named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced on Wednesday.

Daniels, a transfer from Liberty University, is among 50 players on the watch list for the award that is presented to college football’s outstanding receiver. Any player, regardless of position, who catches is pass is eligible for the honor.

Last year, LSU All-America Malik Nabers was runner-up for the award, missing out on the trophy by a single vote. Past LSU winners of the Biletnikoff Award include Josh Reed in 2001 and Ja’Marr Chase in 2019.

Daniels joined the Tigers last spring after catching 106 passes for 1,954 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons at Liberty. In 2023, Daniels earned second-team All-Conference USA honors following a season that saw him catch 55 passes for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In 2023, he finished second in Conference USA in receiving yards and TDs and ranked fifth in the league in receptions.

Daniels has seven career 100-yard games to his credit with five coming in 2023. He tied a career-high with eight receptions against Oregon in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. He tied his career-best with 157 receiving yards in the win over New Mexico State in the 2023 Conference USA Championship Game.

LSU Cruising Through Fall Camp:

LSU continued to progress through the acclimatization stretch of training camp as the 12th-ranked Tigers held their fifth preseason workout here Tuesday at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.

Tuesday’s workout had the Tigers focusing on second down situations, including second-and-short and second-and-long. LSU will practice in full pads for the first time on Wednesday when the Tigers will have their first down-and-distance practice, which includes moving the chains, and redzone situations.

“It’s been a little bit of a natural progression through the first six (days of camp),” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said following Tuesday’s morning workout. “We want to be very careful as we acclimatize our football team.

“We were outside for about an hour and five minutes today and got a lot of competitive work in during that time. I think our team is getting to that point – tomorrow we will be out for an hour and 15 minutes, we’ll get to an hour and 30 (minutes) and then next week, pretty close to where we can get virtually get an entire practice outdoors at the competitive level that I’m looking for.”

Kelly said the new recovery center at the football operations building has gone a long way to helping the players bounce back after practice.

“I like the steps we are taking and I like the way we are going about it. The guys are doing a great job recovering. We are using our new recovery center and it’s really been effective for us getting the guys to come back the next day stronger.”

The Tigers will use Thursday as a recovery day, followed by practices on Friday and Saturday to wrap up the second week of camp.

LSU opens its season on Sunday, Sept. 1 against 23rd-ranked USC in Las Vegas.

More LSU News:

Fall Camp Week 2 Preview: Storylines, Position Battles and Depth Chart Predictions

Fall Camp Notes: Who's Standing Out After Week 1?

LSU Lands Commitment From Top 10 Safety in America Aiden Hall

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