MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis became the seventh Badgers player named to a college football preseason award watch list on Tuesday.
Abbrederis, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound redshirt junior, is one of 48 players selected nationally to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list, which honors the country's top wide receiver. He is one of four Big Ten wide receivers on the list, along with Ohio State's Corey Brown, Iowa's Keenan Davis and Michigan's Roy Roundtree.
Last season, Abbrederis caught 55 passes and led the Badgers with 933 receiving yards, the fifth-most by a sophomore in program history. His eight touchdown receptions tied for second on the team.
Abbrederis, a Wautoma, Wis., native, also ranked third nationally in punt return average, at 15.8 yards. He tallied 1,999 all-purpose yards, which ranked 13th in the country.
Along with Abbrederis, left tackle Ricky Wagner, center Travis Frederick, and linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland were named candidates for the Rotary Lombardi Award. The honor is given annually to the college football lineman who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the discipline of Vince Lombardi. Borland also was named to the Butkus Award watch list, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.
Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced Oct. 22, while the 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award will be named Nov. 12.
The Lombardi Award will be announced on national television following four rounds of voting by its selection committee.
The full list of Wisconsin football players named to 2012 preseason watch lists thus far:
* RB Montee Ball: Maxwell Award
* LB Chris Borland: Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award
* OL Travis Frederick: Rimington Trophy, Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award
* TE Jacob Pedersen: John Mackey Award
* LB Mike Taylor: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award
* OL Ricky Wagner: Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award
* WR Jared Abbrederis: Biletnikoff Award
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