NEW YORK CITY – Friday’s release of the 2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, saw four Sun Belt student-athletes named to the list with Appalachian State’s Collin Reed, Georgia Southern’s Ellis Richardson, Louisiana’s Chase Rogers, ULM’s Josh Pederson all recognized.
A native of Boiling Springs, S.C., the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Reed had touchdown receptions of 68 and 16 yards in a 106-yard game early last season. His three touchdowns against Sun Belt opponents came at key times in victories when the Mountaineers were trailing by 13 points, trailing by three points and leading by three points.
Richardson has been on just about every preseason All-Sun Belt team after a breakout junior season. The Atlanta native played in 11 games, starting six and led the Eagles in touchdown receptions.
Rogers was a 2017 Third-Team All-Sun Belt selection as a freshman. He played in eight games, starting in two before suffering a season ending injury in the Cajuns’ contest at Ole Miss.
Pederson, the son of Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Winning Head Coach Doug Pederson, played in all 12 of the Warhawks’ contests.
The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2018 Mackey Award recipient will be announced on December 5, 2018 and then presented live on December 6, 2018 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. All future announcements can be found at www.johnmackeyaward.com.
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.
2018 Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
| Chase |
Allen |
Iowa St |
| Hale |
Hentges |
Alabama |
| Collin |
Reed |
Appalachian St |
| Bryce |
Wolma |
Arizona |
| Nolan |
Givan |
Ball St |
| John |
Bates |
Boise St |
| Tommy |
Sweeney |
Boston College |
| Tyler |
Mabry |
Buffalo |
| Matt |
Bushman |
BYU |
| Ray |
Hudson |
California |
| Milan |
Richard |
Clemson |
| Cameron |
Butler |
Colorado St |
| Daniel |
Helm |
Duke |
| Harrison |
Bryant Jr |
Florida Atlantic |
| Jared |
Rice |
Fresno St |
| Isaac |
Nauta |
Georgia |
| Ellis |
Richardson |
Georgia Southern |
| Louis |
Dorsey |
Illinois |
| Noah |
Fant |
Iowa |
| TJ |
Hockenson |
Iowa |
| Mavin |
Saunders |
Kansas |
| CJ |
Conrad |
Kentucky |
| Chase |
Rogers |
Louisiana |
| Kemari |
Averett |
Louisville |
| Micky |
Crum |
Louisville |
| Foster |
Moreau |
LSU |
| Joey |
Magnifico |
Memphis |
| Nate |
Becker |
Miami (OH) |
| Zach |
Gentry |
Michigan |
| Sean |
McKeon |
Michigan |
| Albert |
Okwuegbunam |
Missouri |
| Jack |
Stoll |
Nebraska |
| Carl |
Tucker |
North Carolina |
| Kelvin |
Smith |
North Texas |
| Alize |
Mack |
Notre Dame |
| Luke |
Farrell |
Ohio St |
| Grant |
Calcaterra |
Oklahoma |
| Dawson |
Knox |
Ole Miss |
| Jacob |
Breeland |
Oregon |
| Jonathan |
Holland |
Penn St. |
| Cole |
Herdman |
Purdue |
| Jerome |
Washington |
Rutgers |
| Kahale |
Warring |
San Diego St |
| Josh |
Oliver |
San Jose St |
| Kevin "KC" |
Crosby |
South Carolina |
| Kaden |
Smith |
Stanford |
| Ravien |
Pierce |
Syracuse |
| Kenny |
Yeboah |
Temple |
| Andrew |
Beck |
Texas |
| Jace |
Sternberger |
Texas A&M |
| Charles |
Jones |
Tulane |
| Logan |
Scott |
UAB |
| Caleb |
Wilson |
UCLA |
| Josh |
Pederson |
ULM |
| Tyler |
Petite |
USC |
| Mitchell |
Wilcox |
USF |
| Dax |
Raymond |
Utah St |
| Jared |
Pinkney |
Vanderbilt |
| Drew |
Sample |
Washington |
| Mik’Quan |
Deane |
Western Kentucky |
| Giovanni |
Ricci |
Western Michigan |
| Zander |
Neuville |
Wisconsin |
| Kyle |
Penniston |
Wisconsin |