Dante Ridgeway may not have won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top wide receiver, but his first trip to Florida was still unforgettable.
"It was real memorable experience," the junior said. "I'll remember it the rest of my life. I was just privileged to be down here, representing the Ball State football team."
The Biletnikoff was one of several awards given out during Thursday night's Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla. The show was broadcast live on ESPN.
Michigan senior Braylon Edwards, considered by many the overwhelming favorite, was the winner. The third finalist was Purdue senior Taylor Stubblefield. Former Wyoming standout Marcus Harris, the 1996 winner, presented the award.
"He had to be the dark horse, but to catch 105 balls and have the production he had, there's no reason he couldn't have won it," Ball State head coach Brady Hoke said after the show.
Hoke, a former Michigan assistant, came to BSU after Edwards' sophomore season.
"I'm close to Braylon and close to that family," Hoke said. "If it wasn't going to Dante, I'm glad Braylon won it."
Ridgeway caught 105 passes for 1,399 yards, leading the nation and breaking his own school records in both categories. Eight of his catches went for touchdowns. The junior's career figures of 238 catches and 3,030 yards are also school records, while his career 22 touchdowns is two behind Brian Oliver.
Edwards had 87 catches for 1,221 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Stubblefield reeled in 82 balls for 1,014 yards and an NCAA-best 15 TDs, and he is also the NCAA career leader in receptions (318).
"I got to hang out with them a lot," Ridgeway said. "Me and Taylor came on the same plane, and his room was right next to mine. I got pictures with both of them."
Dan Dunford, a freshman receiver watched the awards show in his room, said that Edwards winning was expected, but it was great to see Ball State on ESPN.
"That's awesome," Dunford said. "It shows that if you can keep working hard like he has, you'll be seen."
"It was great to see a guy from the MAC and from Ball State there," freshman running back Jovens Degage said. "I'm very happy for him just to see him get that far."
Dunford added that Ridgeway has been a great example of how to play his position, especially for someone who switched to there.
"Pretty much just watching Dante has been a great help," he said. "It'll be a huge thing for me in the future."
Another MAC player, Eastern Michigan place kicker Andrew Wellock, was also a finalist. He was beat out for the Lou Groza Award by another heavy favorite, Ohio State's Mike Nugent.
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