Anthony Smith Named to Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List
Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
East Carolina graduate senior wide receiver Anthony Smith is officially on the national radar. Smith was one of just 47 players across the country named to the 2025 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation announced Wednesday. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding pass-catcher in college football.
Smith becomes the 14th Pirate since 2006 to be recognized on the Biletnikoff preseason list, joining a strong group that includes CJ Johnson, Isaiah Winstead, Zay Jones, Justin Hardy, and Dwayne Harris. Jones remains the only Pirate to ever be named a finalist for the prestigious honor.
A Breakout 2024 Season
Smith made an immediate impact in his first year in Greenville last fall. He started all 13 games and hauled in 41 catches for 799 yards and six touchdowns. That was good for a whopping 19.5 yards per reception — ranking 11th nationally — and he recorded at least one catch in 11 of 13 contests.
Explosive plays were Smith’s calling card. He tied for the team lead with 12 receptions of 20+ yards, including gains of 64 and 46 yards versus Florida Atlantic, 53 and 50-yard touchdowns against UTSA and North Texas, and several more chunk plays against ODU, Temple, and Tulsa. He had 30 grabs that went for 10 or more yards and seven that eclipsed the 40-yard mark.
He posted three 100-yard receiving games (North Texas, FAU, and Temple) and averaged 61.5 receiving yards per game, ranking in the top 100 nationally in that category.
Smith was recognized for his stellar season with an All-AAC Honorable Mention nod by the league’s head coaches, a Third-Team All-AAC selection by College Football Network, and a Fourth-Team All-AAC pick by Phil Steele Magazine.
New Number, Same Goal
After wearing No. 17 in 2024, Smith will now rock the number nine jersey for his final season of eligibility — a move symbolic of his elevated role and expectations within the program. He enters 2025 as ECU’s undisputed WR1 and one of the top playmakers in the American Athletic Conference.
About the Award
The Biletnikoff Award isn’t just for wide receivers — any player who catches passes is eligible, including tight ends, slot backs, and running backs. It’s a single-season award that strictly recognizes excellence as a pass-catcher.
The winner will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 12, 2025.
ECU Media Relations contributed to this piece.