Howell Named to Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Aug 07
MONROE, La. – ULM super senior wide receiver Tyrone Howell, who led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (852) and touchdown receptions (6), has been named to the 2023 Preseason Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually since 1994 to the outstanding Football Bowl Subdivision receiver, regardless of position, by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
The 6-foot-3, 204-pound Howell also has earned preseason All-Sun Belt recognition from Pro Football Focus (first team), Athlon Sports (first team), conference's head coaches and media panel (second team) and Phil Steele (second team).
Howell received All-Sun Belt Second-Team recognition following his breakout junior season. He led the team in receptions in five of the last six games in 2022 and finished with three 100-yard receiving games.
In Sun Belt Conference games, Howell led the league in receiving yards per game (98.3), receiving yards (786), yards per catch (20.7) and TD catches (6; tied with Georgia State's Jamari Thrash). He tied TCU's Taye Barber and Nebraska's Trey Palmer for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision lead with three receptions of 70 or more yards, including an 89-yard reception against the Ragin' Cajuns and 75- and 83-yard TD receptions at South Alabama. He ranked 32nd in FBS and sixth in the SBC in yards per reception at 17.04.
He had 39 of his 50 receptions over the last seven games, going for 668 of his 852 yards and all six of his TDs. Howell also led the team in first down receptions (33), explosive receptions (12, 20-plus yards) and yards after catch (459). His 459 YAC total was good for fourth among SBC receivers (No. 23 in NCAA FBS).
"Tyrone Howell really had a breakout year for us," ULM offensive coordinator Matt Kubik said. "He has all the tools you want in an outside receiver, especially his run-after-the-catch ability. Many of his explosive plays last year came after he broke a couple tackles. 2022 was his first full season as a starter at the FBS level, and we believe he still has a lot of ceiling left."
"Tyrone Howell is an elite receiver," ULM quarterback Jiya Wright said. "Whenever you put the ball in Tyrone's hands, he's likely to deliver a big play. He's a mismatch guy on the deep balls due to his combination of size and speed. Tyrone also has the ability to turn a short throw into a big play because he can break tackles and outrun people in the open field."
The Idabel, Oklahoma, native had a career-best 12 receptions for 176 yards and two scores (46 and 18 yards) in ULM's 31-30 come-from-behind victory over Texas State. Howell broke four tackles en route to an end zone for a 46-yard scoring play from Chandler Rogers as the Warhawks, who trailed 21-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game pulled to within 24-17 at the intermission. He finished off a 13-play, 73-yard drive late in the third quarter by spinning out of an attempted tackle at the Texas State 2 to complete an 18-yard TD reception. It marked Howell's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career. He gained 72 of his 176 receiving yards after the catch.
Howell set career highs for receiving yards (244) and TD receptions (3) on nine catches at South Alabama. He scored on receptions of 75, 25 and 83 yards from Rogers. He picked up 151 of his 244 receiving yards after the catch. With ULM trailing 41-20, Howell caught three passes for 104 yards and one score in the fourth quarter alone. His three TD catches (tied for third) and 244 receiving yards (fourth) rank among the top single-game totals posted in the NCAA FBS in 2022. For his effort, he was named to the Pro Football Focus College National Offensive Team of the Week.
His 244 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total in ULM history, trailing only Stepfret Williams who caught 10 passes for 264 yards at Nevada in 1995. His three TD receptions tied the third-highest single-game total in school history – just one shy of the record shared by Brent Leonard (4 vs. South Alabama, 2012) and Williams (4 vs. Nevada, 1995).
Howell had four receptions for 77 yards and his first-career touchdown reception at the NCAA FBS level on a 42-yard strike from Rogers on the opening drive of the third quarter against Coastal Carolina. His catch received attention from ESPN, as he made the TD grab with his left hand while falling into the end zone, drawing a pass interference penalty, which was declined.
He posted his first 100-yard receiving game as a Warhawk against the Ragin' Cajuns. Howell caught three passes for 124 yards, including an 89-yard catch-and-run to set up Malik Jackson's go-ahead 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. His 89-yard reception ranks as the fourth-longest pass play in ULM history. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since his true freshman season at NCAA Division II Central Oklahoma in 2018, when he caught five passes for 152 yards and 2 TDs at Lindenwood.
The award is named in honor of Fred Biletnikoff, a member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Biletnikoff became Florida State's first consensus All-American as a senior in 1964, earning first-team honors after setting school single-season records for receptions (57), receiving yards (987) and TDs scored (11). He closed out his collegiate career by setting school single-game records with 13 receptions for 192 yards and four TDs in FSU's 36-19 victory over Oklahoma in the 1965 Gator Bowl. A three-year letterman from 1962-64, Biletnikoff finished his FSU career with 87 catches for 1,463 yards and 16 TDs – all school records at the time. His No. 25 was retired shortly after his collegiate career. In 1991, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Biletnikoff caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards and 76 TDs during his 14-year pro career with the Oakland Raiders. He had 40 or more receptions in 10 consecutive seasons. Biletnikoff was named to six Pro Bowls, earned All-Pro honors twice and was selected MVP of Super Bowl XI (vs. Minnesota). He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.