SEATTLE - Washington’s offense has leaned hard on Chris Lawson, and the sophomore wideout is starting to get national recognition for it.
Lawson was one of four receivers added Monday to the Biletnikoff Award watchlist, putting him in the mix for the honor given to the best receiver in college football. It comes after a season in which the San Francisco native has become the Huskies’ most reliable target, no matter who has been throwing him the ball.
Washington is 5-4 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play, and the Huskies still need one more win to become bowl eligible and reach a bowl game for the third straight season under Jedd Fisch. They’ve gone 2-1 over their last three games, beating Purdue and Nebraska while falling to Penn State, and Lawson has been central to the offense throughout that stretch.
That’s a big shift from his freshman year in 2025, when he had just 10 catches in 89 total snaps. This season, he has 49 receptions for 727 yards and three touchdowns.
His catches are second on the team, while his receiving yards lead Washington. Nationally, his 727 yards rank 25th, and in the Big Ten he sits seventh.
His biggest night came in the Huskies’ 17-10 win over Nebraska on Oct. 31. Lawson hauled in 12 passes for 155 yards, both career highs, and delivered the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said Tuesday at Husky Stadium that he had already spoken with Lawson about the watchlist nod.
"I talked to him about it yesterday," Williams said in a weekly news conference Tuesday at Husky Stadium. "I think it's awesome just to see how he's grown just throughout his time being here and really throughout the season.
Each game (Lawson's) getting better and continuing to increase his confidence and the way he plays week in, week out. I just admire the way he works every week, keep doing what he's doing.
I'm super appreciative having him on the team."
Washington has come close to the Biletnikoff before. Rome Odunze was a finalist in 2023, and Denzel Boston, the team’s leading receiver last season, was also on the watchlist.
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