East Coast bias is the only reason we can explain Juju Smith being snubbed from from the preseason Biletnikoff Award list as one of nation’s top receivers.
We ran the Value Add Sports calculations on all returning California athletes and emailed 139 sports writers and other experts in the state to help rank the 25 state players to watch on a list we will update here.
The USC receiver beat out great athletes from rival UCLA and Cal, as well as a host of great track, soccer, baseball, and basketball players from Cal State Northridge, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Pepperdine, Sacramento State, San Diego State, and Santa Clara.
Frankly, we find it shocking that Smith could be left off the list of 48 receivers considered for the award. Rarely do you see a freshman as dominant, and players make their biggest jump between their freshman and sophomore years.
Now add that with Nick Agholor going to the NFL Smiths become the main target for his main competition for top player in the state, quarterback Cody Kessler. He also plays alongside two other great receivers in Darreus Rogers and Adoree Jackson to keep defenders from focusing on him.
| Smith’s Freshmen Stats vs. | Result | Rec | Yds | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | Won 52-13 | 4 | 123 | 30.8 |
| at Stanford | Won 13-10 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 |
| at Boston College | Lost 37-31 | 6 | 49 | 8.2 |
| Oregon St. | Won 35-10 | 3 | 13 | 4.3 |
| Arizona St. | Lost 38-34 | 4 | 24 | 6.0 |
| at Arizona | Won 28-26 | 4 | 39 | 9.8 |
| Colorado (TD) | Won 56-28 | 4 | 104 | 26.0 |
| at Utah (TD) | Lost 24-21 | 6 | 77 | 12.8 |
| at Washington St. (3Tds) | Won 44-17 | 6 | 74 | 12.3 |
| Cal | Won 38-30 | 4 | 30 | 7.5 |
| at UCLA | Lost 38-20 | 4 | 79 | 19.8 |
| Notre Dame | Won 49-14 | 5 | 48 | 9.6 |
| Nebraska | Won 45-42 | 3 | 66 | 22.0 |
Tiger Woods edges out Brady as the best athlete ever from California despite the sad showing this weekend that indicates Woods likely plays in the twilight of his career.
Here are the top 25:
- Juju Smith, USC, Football,
- Cody Kessler, USC Trojans, Foot, QB
- Jaylen Brown, California, Basket, PF
- Andi Sullivan, Stanford, Soccer, Midfielder
- Kaulyn Lee-McNeill, UC Irvine, Track/Field, 400m Intermediate Hu
- Jared Brownridge, Santa Clara, Basket, SG
- Khalfani Muhammad, California, Foot/Track, zzzz
- Annia Mejia, California, Soccer, Defender
- Hailey Harbison, Pepperdine, Soccer, Midfielder
- Ashley Gonzales, Long Beach State, Soccer, Forward
- Emily Boyd, California, Soccer, Goalkeeper
- Allexis Bennett, UCLA, Softball,
- Faith Anumba, UCLA, Track/Field, Triple Jump
- Zoey Goralski, UCLA, Soccer, Defender
- Austin Hazel, UCLA, Track/Field, Long Jump
- Ivan Rabb, California, Basket, PF
- Adoree’ Jackson, USC, Foot/Track, zzzz
- Indigo Gibson, California, Soccer, Defender
- Jason Chandler, UC Davis, Track/Field, 400m Intermediate Hu
- Bryce Alford, UCLA, Basket, PG
- Jamie Van Horn, Pepperdine, Soccer, Defender
- Sydney Sladek, USC, Soccer, Midfielder
- Brianna Cueva, Cal St. Northridge, Track/Field, Discus Throw
- Trey Kell, San Diego St., Basket, PG
- Daulton Jefferies, California, Baseball, SP
Others Receiving Votes in Alphabetical Order
Aric Walden, Sacramento St., Track/Field, 110m High Hurdles
Chris Paul, California, Baseball, 1B
Ellis Newton, California, Track/Field, 800m Run
Faith Makau, UC Riverside, Track/Field, 1,500m Run
Garrett Stubbs, USC, Baseball, C
Grant Dyer, UCLA, Baseball, RP
Guro Bergsvand, California, Soccer, Midfielder
Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Stanford, Foot/Track
Leon Powell, UCLA, Track/Field, 200m Dash
Lucas Erceg, California, Baseball, 3B
Malik Pope, San Diego St., Basket, C
Marvelle Harris, Fresno St., Basket, PG
Stacy Davis, Pepperdine, Basket, PF
Tyrone Wallace, California, Basket, PG