Louisville's Chris Bell named to 2025 Biletnikoff Award Watch List
University of Louisville senior wide receiver Chris Bell was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Wednesday morning.
The award recognizes the most outstanding receiver in all of college football, regardless of position — running backs and tight ends are considered as well.
Bell, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound playmaker from Yazoo City, Mississippi, is coming off a junior season where he played second fiddle to Ja’Corey Brooks, who’s currently lighting it up in NFL training camp with the Washington Commanders. Last season, he finished second on the team in catches (43) and yards (737) behind Brooks and also hauled in four touchdowns.
His inclusion marks the first time a Louisville receiver has appeared on the preseason watch list since Tutu Atwell in 2020. With another strong campaign, Bell could become the first Cardinal finalist for the award since Harry Douglas in 2007. The 2025 watch list includes 47 of the best pass catchers in FBS college football.
The wideout is one of five Atlantic Coast Conference receivers to be named to the watch list, including Clemson’s Bryant Wesco Jr. and Antonio Williams, Georgia Tech’s Eric Rivers, and North Carolina State tight end Justin Joly.
From the ACC: “The Biletnikoff Award’s semifinalists, three finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 600 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted.”
The Biletnikoff Award winner will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December. Semifinalists will be named in November, with three finalists selected shortly after.
Bell is due for a big season as the surefire go-to wide receiver for transfer quarterback Miller Moss and has looked the part in fall camp. On offense, he’ll be surrounded by 1,000 career-yard slot receiver Caullin Lacy, one of the best running back duos in the country in Isaac Brown and Duke Watson.
Louisville opens its 2025 season on August 30 against Eastern Kentucky at L&N Stadium.
