University of Tennessee Athletics
Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley Named to 2026 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List
August 19, 2026 | Football
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tennessee wide receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley have been named to the 2026 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced Wednesday.
The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the nation's outstanding receiver, regardless of position.
Staley, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, enters his third season on Rocky Top as one of the conference's top returning playmakers and an explosive threat from the slot. The dynamic receiver has played in 17 games with 13 starts, totaling 71 receptions for 858 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 12.1 yards per catch. His 68 receptions in 2025 rank as the most among returning SEC receivers. Staley recorded two 100-yard receiving performances and generated 414 of his 858 receiving yards after the catch.
A two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Staley enters 2026 poised to build on a breakout sophomore campaign and establish himself as one of the nation's elite receivers.
Matthews also enters his third season with the Vols as one of the SEC's top returning receivers and a proven go-to playmaker in Tennessee's offense. Matthews has recorded 60 receptions for 903 yards and six touchdowns during his Tennessee career, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. He has played in 24 career games with 13 starts and owns three career 100-yard receiving performances.
The Lilburn, Georgia, native was ranked No. 71 on Bruce Feldman's 2026 Freaks List by The Athletic and, like Staley, is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Tennessee is one of eight FBS teams with multiple receivers on the watch list, and one of three SEC teams.
The Biletnikoff Award will announce its semifinalists on Nov. 16, finalists on Nov. 24 and the 2026 winner on Dec. 11 at the Home Depot College Football Awards.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to the nation's outstanding receiver, regardless of position.
Staley, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, enters his third season on Rocky Top as one of the conference's top returning playmakers and an explosive threat from the slot. The dynamic receiver has played in 17 games with 13 starts, totaling 71 receptions for 858 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 12.1 yards per catch. His 68 receptions in 2025 rank as the most among returning SEC receivers. Staley recorded two 100-yard receiving performances and generated 414 of his 858 receiving yards after the catch.
A two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Staley enters 2026 poised to build on a breakout sophomore campaign and establish himself as one of the nation's elite receivers.
Matthews also enters his third season with the Vols as one of the SEC's top returning receivers and a proven go-to playmaker in Tennessee's offense. Matthews has recorded 60 receptions for 903 yards and six touchdowns during his Tennessee career, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. He has played in 24 career games with 13 starts and owns three career 100-yard receiving performances.
The Lilburn, Georgia, native was ranked No. 71 on Bruce Feldman's 2026 Freaks List by The Athletic and, like Staley, is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Tennessee is one of eight FBS teams with multiple receivers on the watch list, and one of three SEC teams.
The Biletnikoff Award will announce its semifinalists on Nov. 16, finalists on Nov. 24 and the 2026 winner on Dec. 11 at the Home Depot College Football Awards.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
Butkus Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Watch List
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
P Jackson Ross
Ray Guy Award Watch List
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
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