Sept. 3, 2007

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - University of Maryland sophomore Darrius Heyward-Bey was named to the preseason watch list for the 2007 Fred Biletnikoff Award on Friday in an announcement by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

The Biletnikoff Award is bestowed upon the best wide receiver in college football and is named after the NFL Hall of Famer who is considered to be among the greatest to have played the position.

Heyward-Bey is one of 30 student-athletes on the watch list (www.biletnikoffaward.com), including four from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Greg Carr of Florida State, James Johnson of Georgia Tech and Lance Leggett of Miami join Heyward-Bey on the list.

The selection committee votes on the award toward the end of the college football season with the winner announced in December. Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson won the 2007 Biletnikoff Award, and was subsequently drafted chosen by the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick in the NFL draft.

Heyward-Bey earned freshman All-America and All-ACC honors last season, and led the Terps with 45 receptions for 694 yards. A preseason All-ACC selection this season by Athlon's, Lindy's, and The Sporting News, the sophomore is the second-leading returning receiver in the ACC.

A native of Silver Spring, Md., Heyward-Bey averaged 53.4 receiving yards per game last season and picked up where he left off in the 2007 opener against Villanova. He had six catches for 81 yards, the third highest total of his career, and also ran the ball once for 13 yards in Maryland's 31-14 victory.

The Fred Biletnikoff Award, presented since 1994, lists several NFL notables as alumni, including Johnson (2006), Braylon Edwards (2004) of the Cleveland Browns, Larry Fitzgerald (2003) of the Arizona Cardinals, Randy Moss (1997) of the New England Patriots, and Terry Glenn (1995) of the Dallas Cowboys.

Heyward-Bey and the Terps will try to improve to 2-0 on the year Saturday when they travel to Miami, Fla., to take on Florida International.