Four MAC Students Named To 2018 John Mackey Award Watch List
Four MAC Students Named To 2018 John Mackey Award Watch List
New York, N.Y. (July 20, 2018) – The Friends of John Mackey have released the 2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, 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.
Representing the MAC are four students junior Nate Becker (Miami); sophomore Nolan Givan (Ball State); junior Tyler Mabry (Buffalo) and junior Giovanni Ricci (Western Michigan).
Becker, a native of Carmel, Ind., is expected to play a major role with the RedHawks this season both as a receiver as well as a blocker. Known more for his superior blocking skills, Becker has recorded six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown in his RedHawk career.
Givan, a native of Berkley, Mich., appeared in all 12 game last season for Ball State and collected 25 receptions for 159 yards (6.4 avg.) and four touchdowns.
Mabry, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., started all 12 games for the Bulls in 2017. He led all Buffalo tight ends in receiving with 24 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown on the year. Mabry registered a catch in 11 of 12 games.
Ricci, a native of Loveland, Ohio, spent last year as a wide out for the Broncos and transitioned to tight end this past spring. Although he has not played a game at the position, expectations are high for Ricci this season. In addition to the Mackey Watch List mention, Ricci was tabbed preseason Second Team All-Mid-American Conference by Phil Steele in June. As a sophomore in 2017, Ricci caught 12 passes for 100 yards before suffering a season-ending injury in Western Michigan's seven-overtime win at Buffalo in Week 6.
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.
The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, recognizes fifteen alumni that have played in the NFL: two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (‘01), 2006 Super Bowl Champion Dallas Clark (‘02), Kellen Winslow II (‘03), two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller (‘04), Marcedes Lewis (‘05) of the Green Bay Packers, 2008 Super Bowl Champion Matt Spaeth (‘06), Fred Davis (‘07), Chase Coffman (‘08), D.J. Williams (‘10), Dwayne Allen (’11) of the New England Patriots, Tyler Eifert (’12) of the Cincinnati Bengals, Austin Seferian-Jenkins (’13) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Nick O’Leary (’14) of the Buffalo Bills, Hunter Henry (’15) of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jake Butt (16’) of the Denver Broncos and 2017 John Mackey Award recipient Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens.
