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Does Notre Dame Football have any Biletnikoff contenders?

By Ben Belden

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tries to break a tackle after a catch against Cameron Smith #35 of the USC Trojans in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tries to break a tackle after a catch against Cameron Smith #35 of the USC Trojans in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football has a host of receivers vying for time in 2019, but do any of them have a chance at winning the Biletnikoff Award?

With fall practice on the horizon, Notre Dame football has a mixture of depth and uncertainty at the wide receiver position. Miles Boykin has moved on to the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, leaving the likes of Chase Claypool, Chris Finke, Michael Young, and Kevin Austin to anchor the Irish receiving corps.

The Biletnikoff Award goes to the most outstanding wide receiver in college football, and the question of the day is whether any of Notre Dame’s returning receivers will have a season that will garner them attention enough to contend for the award.

Last year’s Biletnikoff winner, Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, hauled in 68 receptions for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s a whopping 19.3 yards per reception. Jeudy was a sophomore last year and will return in 2019 to try to defend his title.

Claypool is probably Notre Dame’s best bet to challenge for the Biletnikoff Award honors, but he’ll have to significantly increase his output from a season ago to do so.

In 2018, Claypool had his best season for the Irish as he played second fiddle to Boykin. Claypool played in all 13 games for the Irish, hauling in 50 receptions for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns. Claypool averaged 12.8 yards per catch and just under 50 yards per game.

As Claypool continues to improve his game and his chemistry continues to develop with quarterback Ian Book, his numbers figure to increase. Notre Dame will look to stretch the field vertically more often this season, and Claypool will be the beneficiary of Notre Dame’s vertical passing game.

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As the Irish look to develop a more explosive passing game, Claypool will be an important cog in the Irish offense. While it would seem that he’s a long shot to contend for an award that is given to the nation’s best receiver, crazier things have happened. Claypool could be poised for a huge 2019 season.

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