NEW YORK – Already under consideration for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the University of South Alabama's Gerald Everett was one of 30 individuals on the Midseason Watch List for the honor released Wednesday.
Not only was the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Lithonia, Ga., resident on the John Mackey Award Selection Committee's preseason watch list, he was named the initial Tight End of the Week by the organization after the Jaguars' season-opening victory at Mississippi State.
In that game, the senior had a career-best eight receptions for 95 yards, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a four-yard catch with only 57 seconds left in regulation. He paced South after catching seven balls for 83 yards at Louisiana-Lafayette — including a touchdown with just under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game — while last time out Everett recorded five receptions for a season-high 103 yards to help the Jaguars earn their first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked opponent with a 42-24 defeat of No. 19 San Diego State.
He leads the team with 26 catches for 393 yards and three touchdowns as USA is off to a 3-2 start entering Saturday's contest at defending Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State, ranking second in the league in receiving yards per game while standing fourth with more than five receptions per outing. Everett is ranked among the top 55 in the country in both statistical categories as well.
Coming into the weekend, Everett stands sixth in school history with 67 catches and is seventh in receiving yards, needing just 32 more to reach 1,000 in his career. His 11 touchdown receptions are third on the program's all-time list, while he also ranks fourth with 15 total touchdowns and seventh in scoring with 90 points.
The 2016 recipient — chosen by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee — will be announced on Dec. 7, with the award presented live the following night at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. A total of 14 winners of the award have gone on to play in the National Football League since it was first presented at the end of the 2000 campaign.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Burns Named to Midseason John Mackey Award List
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University football senior tight end Barrett Burns was named to the Midseason Watch List for the John Mackey Award on Wednesday as one of the nation’s top tight ends .
Burns leads the team with 170 receiving yards and second with 10 catches. His one touchdown catch on the year is tied for the team lead while his 34 yards receiving per game is a Mountaineer best.
The reliable tight end has caught a pass four out of five games this season while hauling in multiple passes in three contests. For his career, Burns has caught 61 passes for 667 yards and 12 touchdowns, which is tied for ninth all-time in with Troy Albea (1999-2000).
Burns is one of four student-athletes (Blake Mack - Arkansas State, Keith Rucker - Georgia State, Gerald Everett - South Alabama) from the Sun Belt to be named to the list.
Burns and the Mountaineers will look to move to 2-0 in conference and their third-straight win against Louisiana. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The John Mackey Award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The 2016 recipient will be announced on Dec. 7 and then presented live on Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the announcement of the Mackey semi-finalists on Nov. 14 and the finalists on November 22.
RUCKER RECOGNIZED ON MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST
ATLANTA -- Georgia State tight end Keith Rucker was tabbed Wednesday to the Midseason Watch List for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
Rucker, a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a preseason conference selection after earning second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2015. This season, the 6-3, 245-pounder has 16 receptions for 128 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown catch in Saturday's win over Texas State.
He ranks in the top six in Georgia State history with 74 career receptions for 914 yards and nine touchdowns.
Off the field, Rucker serves as the Sun Belt Conference representative on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Rucker is the second Georgia State tight end in three seasons to be recognized as a Mackey Award candidate, following Joel Ruiz in 2014. Since the beginning of the 2014 season (30 games), Georgia State tight ends have combined for 116 receptions for 1,402 yards and 12 touchdowns.
NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA. He was an NFL teammate and close friend of former Georgia State football coach Bill Curry.
The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, and the 2016 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 7, 2016 and then presented live on December 8, 2016 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the announcement of the 2016 Mackey Semi-finalists on November 14, 2016 and the 2016 Mackey Finalists on November 22, 2016.
Georgia State plays at Sun Belt leader Troy Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Mack Named to John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List
JONESBORO, Ark. (10/12/16) – Arkansas State junior tight end Blake Mack was one of 30 student-athletes across the nation named Wednesday to the Midseason Watch List for the John Mackey Award, issued annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
Mack has recorded 22 receptions for 389 yards, both team highs, and is ranked among the top six players in the Sun Belt Conference in both statistics. The junior standout moved to the tight end position this season after previously playing wide receiver for the Red Wolves.
A Lonoke, Ark., native, Mack’s 389 receiving yards are currently the third most in the nation among all tight ends, while his receptions total is the sixth highest. He caught eight passes for 142 yards against UCA, which were both career highs, and was named a John Mackey Award Honorable Mention Tight End of the Week for his performance.
Mack joins former tight end Darion Griswold as the second A-State player to earn a spot on the John Mackey Award Watch List. Griswold received the recognition as both a junior and senior in 2014 and 2015.
The John Mackey Award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The 2016 recipient will be announced on Dec. 7 and then presented live on Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the announcement of the Mackey semi-finalists on Nov. 14 and the finalists on November 22.
Arkansas State is set to play its third consecutive home game and continue Sun Belt Conference action Saturday, Oct. 15, when it hosts South Alabama at 6 p.m. in its 2016 Homecoming game. Tickets may be purchased through the A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center’s lower red entrance, in person, by phone at 870-972-2781 or online at AStateRedWolves.com/tickets.