California is one of 10 schools in the FBS to land at least two players on the 2026 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List that was released on Wednesday by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. 

Senior wide receivers Chase Hendricks and Ian Strong were two of the 45 receivers listed on the preseason watch list. Both Hendricks (Ohio) and Strong (Rutgers) transferred to Cal in January 2026 and competed in spring practice for the Golden Bears.

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.

Receivers are frequently added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

Hendricks started all 13 games for the Bobcats a season ago. He tallied 1,037 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, becoming the fourth Bobcat in program history to log 1,000-plus yards in a single season. Over the course of the season, he recorded 100 or more receiving yards in six different games.

He was one of 22 receivers in college football last season to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards.

Strong started 10 games at wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights in 2025. He finished the season with 762 yards on 52 receptions and five touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 76.2 receiving yards per game and sixth with 5.2 receptions per game last season. Over the course of 2025, he tallied four games with at least 100 receiving yards and posted at least five catches in seven contests.

Strong was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media after last season.