Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest's Carlos Hernandez Added to Biletnikoff Award Watchlist
10/7/2026 12:09:00 PM | Football
The senior wide receiver currently leads the country in yards after catch and ranks top-five nationally in total receiving yardage.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Wake Forest senior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez has been added to the 2026 Biletnikoff Award Watchlist, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc. announced on Wednesday.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football's most outstanding receiver.
Through the first five games of the season, Hernandez has recorded 37 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks No. 1 nationally in yards after catch at 312 – 34 more than any other receiver in the country – and also ranks fifth in total receiving yards.
Additionally, he is one of only four Power Four wide receivers with more than 600 yards to date alongside preseason All-Americans Jeremiah Smith, Malachi Toney and KJ Duff.
The California native opened the season with five catches for 165 yards and a touchdown in just the first half against Akron while recording a nine-catch, 194-yard performance in a victory at No. 16 Louisville.
Including his 197-yard outing against Delaware last season, Hernandez is the first player in program history with a pair of 190-plus-yard receiving games.
Dating back to a 100-yard game against North Carolina on Nov. 15, 2025, Hernandez is also one of just three wide receivers in the country with 60 or more receptions for 1,000-plus yards during that span.
The Biletnikoff Award's semifinalists, three finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 625 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted.
For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football's most outstanding receiver.
Through the first five games of the season, Hernandez has recorded 37 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks No. 1 nationally in yards after catch at 312 – 34 more than any other receiver in the country – and also ranks fifth in total receiving yards.
| Rank | Player | School | Yards After Catch |
| 1. | Carlos Hernandez | Wake Forest | 312 |
| 2. | Vernell Brown | Florida | 278 |
| 3. | Que'Sean Brown | Virginia Tech | 276 |
| 4. | Malachi Toney | Miami | 254 |
| 5. | Anthony Evans | Mississippi State | 231 |
| Rank | Player | School | Total Receiving Yards |
| 1. | Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | 823 |
| 2. | Jesse Legree | Oregon State | 741 |
| 3. | KJ Duff | Rutgers | 628 |
| 4. | Malachi Toney | Miami | 604 |
| 5. | Carlos Hernandez | Wake Forest | 603 |
Including his 197-yard outing against Delaware last season, Hernandez is the first player in program history with a pair of 190-plus-yard receiving games.
| Rank | Name | Opponent (Date) | Yards |
| 1. | Wayne Baumgardner | South Carolina (11/15/80) | 271 |
| 2. | John Henry Mills | Duke (11/3/90) | 230 |
| 3. | Carlos Hernandez | Delaware (11/22/25) | 197 |
| 4. | Sage Surratt | Louisville (10/12/19) | 196 |
| T5. | Carlos Hernandez | Louisville (9/26/26) | 194 |
| T5. | James Brim | NC State (9/20/86) | 194 |
| T5. | Fabian Davis | Navy (11/18/00) | 194 |
| Player | School | Receptions | Receiving Yards |
| Malachi Toney | Miami | 94 | 1,171 |
| Jeremiah Smith | Ohio State | 66 | 1,204 |
| Carlos Hernandez | Wake Forest | 60 | 1,066 |
For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.
Players Mentioned
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