A-State’s Griswold Tabbed to Mackey Award Watch List
JONESBORO, Ark. (7/8/15) – Arkansas State senior tight end Darion Griswold has been named to the 2015 watch list for the John Mackey award, issued annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end in the nation.
Griswold, who was on the list as a junior in 2014, is the only player in A-State history to have appeared on the watch list and is just one of the 33 tight ends across the country to be recognized this year. He has also been named preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Griswold, the only tight end from the Sun Belt to appear on the Mackey Award watch list, recorded 18 receptions for 221 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. He ranked fifth among all players on the A-State roster in receiving yards and his four touchdown receptions were tied for the team lead.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Dumas, Ark., native enters his senior campaign with 705 career receiving yards, the most by a tight end in school history since former Red Wolves player and current NFL product David Johnson accumulated 706 yards from 2005-08. His 52 career receptions are the most since Trevor Gillot hauled in 59 from 2006-09 and seven career touchdowns are just two shy for the eighth most in school history regardless of position.
The John Mackey Award recipient is selected by a vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and will be announced Dec. 10, 2015. The award will be presented live the following day at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.
Season tickets for the 2015 campaign are on sale at the A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center’s lower red entrance. The ticket office can be contacted at 870-972-2781 and ticket information is also available by on the Ticket Central
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Georgia State Football: Ruiz Named to John Mackey Award Watch List
What You Need to Know:
* Senior tight end Joel Ruiz was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award.
* Ruiz caught 39 passes for 478 yards and three TDs in 10 games in 2014.
* GSU opens the season Sept. 4 vs. Charlotte at the Georgia Dome.
ATLANTA -- Georgia State senior tight end Joel Ruiz continues to garner national attention with his selection to the 2015 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, announced Wednesday by the Friends of John Mackey.
Ruiz, 6-4 and 240 pounds, transferred to Georgia State from Presbyterian and made an immediate impact in 2014 with 39 receptions for 478 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.
In his first game in a Georgia State uniform, Ruiz caught seven passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 2014 season-opening win over Abilene Christian and was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week.
He was then named to the John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List -- the first Panther ever named to a watch list for a major award -- as well as second-team All-Sun Belt Conference.
Entering 2015, the Kingsland, Ga., native has been named to preseason all-conference teams by every preseason publication, including Lindy's, Athlon, The Sporting News and Phil Steele.
Last week, Ruiz was ranked among the top five senior tight end prospects for the 2016 National Football League draft by ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
The John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. The 2015 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 9, 2015 and then presented live on December 10, 2015 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.
Georgia State opens the 2015 season by hosting Charlotte on Friday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU. Season tickets are on sale now by calling 404-413-4020.