One year after zero Alabama receivers were named to the Biletnikoff Award’s preseason watch list, the Crimson Tide landed three players on the 2019 watch list, which was released on Thursday, with juniors Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and sophomore Jaylen Waddle represented.

Alabama is the only team in the country with three players on the Biletnikoff Award’s watch list. Clemson (Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross) and Oklahoma (Grant Calcaterra, CeeDee Lamb) each have two.

Any player -- regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back and running back) -- who catches a pass is eligible for this postseason award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.

Jeudy stepped into a starting role last year after seeing plenty of the field as a freshman in 2017. He led Alabama in receptions (68), receiving yards (1,315), receiving touchdowns (14), yards per catch (19.3) and yards per game (87.7). His 19.3 yards per catch average is now a school single-season record (minimum 50 catches), surpassing the previous total of 17.0 by DJ Hall in 2006.

On top of leading the Crimson Tide in several receiving categories, Jeudy finished tied for third nationally and led the SEC with 14 touchdown receptions. Those 14 scores rank second in Alabama single-season annals, just two shy of Amari Cooper (2014). His 1,315 receiving yards were also good for second in UA history for a single season, also behind Cooper (2014 -- 1,727 yards).

Last season, Ruggs stepped into the starting lineup one year after seeing plenty of the field as a freshman. The Montgomery, Ala., native was one of three sophomore starters along with Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith, and Ruggs finished second on the team in receptions and touchdowns.

Alabama wide receivers Henry Ruggs III (left) and Jerry Jeudy

As a sophomore a year ago, Ruggs hauled in 46 receptions for 741 yards and 11 scores, and his 11 touchdown receptions tied for second in the Southeastern Conference. He also ranked in the top 15 of the league in nearly every receiving category and tallied 20-plus yard gains on 13 of his catches in 2018. Thirty-four of his 46 receptions resulted in a first down or a touchdown.

Waddle was one of three freshmen to play in all 15 games last year. Despite being a reserve wide receiver for most of the season, he finished with the second-most receiving yards for the Tide with 848 on 45 receptions, averaging 18.84 yards per catch -- second only to Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy (19.34). He also scored seven touchdowns, the third-highest total in 2018.

It wasn’t just on offense where Waddle excelled, though. The star freshman shined on special teams as a punt returner, averaging 14.56 yards per return and scoring one touchdown. He only returned 16 punts (for 223 yards) as teams quickly learned to punt away from the freshman.

The 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner will be presented live on Dec. 12 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN (6 p.m. CT broadcast).

Two Alabama players have won the Biletnikoff Award in Jeudy (2018) and Amari Cooper (2014).

Alabama players on preseason watch lists:

Maxwell Award -- Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy Tua Tagovailoa

Chuck Bednarik Award -- Raekwon Davis, Dylan Moses

Davey O’Brien Award -- Tua Tagovailoa

Doak Walker Award -- Najee Harris

Biletnikoff Award -- Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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