RIP JOHN MACKEY (1941-2011)
The John Mackey Award, established in 2001, is awarded annually to the most outstanding tight end in FBS college football. In addition to demonstrating outstanding athletic prowess on the field, the award also stands for positive sportsmanship-like behavior, good academic standing and exceptional leadership abilities.
The award recipient is determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, which is composed of respected members of the media and former NFL players.
The award is named after Roosevelt native and NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey. Mackey was often regarded as one of the all-time greats to ever have played the tight end position. He played in the National Football League for 10 years, was elected to the Pro Bowl five times, was a three-time All-NFL Player, was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team and to the league's 50th Anniversary squad. He also played in two NFL Championship games and two Super Bowls, including the victorious Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V where he caught a pivotal 75 yd TD from Johnny Unitas.
During his playing days, the 6'2", 225-pound John "Mack Truck" Mackey was known for his tremendous speed and power. His courageous leadership on the field led him into power as President of the NFL Players Association and subsequent improvements in players free agency rights, pension benefits and injury protection programs now enjoyed by all NFL players. Prior to his remarkable NFL career and ground breaking work with the NFLPA, Mackey had attended the alma mater of boyhood idol and fellow Nassau County native Jim Brown at Syracuse University.
2012 John Mackey Award Recipient
Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame (SR, 6-6 251 lb.)
Click here for the ESPN press release
2012 John Mackey Award Finalists
(In Alphabetic Order - Please click on the player for hi resolution image)
- Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame (SR, 6-6 251 lb.)
- Zach Ertz, Stanford (SR, 6-6 247 lb.)
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington (SO, 6-6 258 lb.)
Please click here for the 2012 John Mackey Award Finalists Press Release
2012 John Mackey Award Semi-Finalists
(In Alphabetic Order - Please click on the player for hi resolution image)
- Jack Doyle, Western Kentucky (SR, 6-6 251 lb.)
- Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame (SR, 6-6 251 lb.)
- Zach Ertz, Stanford (SR, 6-6 247 lb.)
- Gavin Escobar, San Diego State (JR, 6-6 245 lb.)
- Joseph Fauria, UCLA (SR, 6-7 258 lb.)
- Ryan Otten, San Jose State (SR, 6-5 245 lb.)
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington (SO, 6-6 258 lb.)
- Zach Sudfeld, Nevada (SR, 6-7 258 lb.)
2012 John Mackey Award Watch Lists
July 10, 2012 - Click here for the 2012 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
Click here for a Slideshow of the 2012 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Candidates
October 15, 2012 - Click here for the 2012 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List
2012 John Mackey Award Schedule
- Preseason Watch List released - Wednesday, July 10, 2012
- Midseason Watch List released - Monday, October 15, 2012
- Eight (8) Semi-Finalists released - Monday, Nov. 12, 2012
- Three (3) Finalists released - Monday, Nov. 19, 2012
- 2012 recipient presented live at Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU - Dec. 6, 2012 @ 6:30pm EST
Past John Mackey Award Recipients
Dwayne Allen
2011 — Clemson University
D.J. Williams
2010 — University of Arkansas
Aaron Hernandez
2009 — University of Florida
Chase Coffman
2008 — University of Missouri
Fred Davis
2007 — USC
Matt Spaeth
2006 — University of Minnesota
Marcedes Lewis
2005 — UCLA
Heath Miller
2004 — University of Virginia
Kellen Winslow II
2003 — University of Miami
Dallas Clark
2002 — University of Iowa
Daniel Graham
2001 — University of Colorado
Tim Stratton
2000 — Purdue University
John Mackey Award Selection Committee
- Bruce Feldman — ESPN
- Marc C. Connolly — ESPN
- Lee Corso — ESPN College GameDay
- Tom Dienhart — Yahoo! Sports/Rivals.com
- Keith Jackson — Former NFL tight end
- Jerry Mackey — Committee Chairman
- Adam Schefter — ESPN NFL Insider
- Phil Steele — Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
- Tim Stratton — Inaugural John Mackey Award Recipient
- Dave-Te' Thomas — NFL Draft Biographer
- Spencer Tillman — CBS Sports
- Dick Weiss — NY Daily News
John Mackey Award Selection Process and Award Criteria
Click here for the John Mackey Award Selection Process and Award Criteria
2012 John Mackey Tight End of the Week Recipients
Click here for the list of all-time Tight Ends of the Week
Week 1: Chris Gragg - University of Arkansas
Week 2: Marcus Green - Mississippi State University
Week 3: Zach Ertz - Stanford University
Week 4: Dion Sims - Michigan State University
Week 5: Ryan Otten - San Jose State University
Week 6: Alex Bayer - Bowling Green State University
Week 7: Marcus Green - Mississippi State University
Week 8: Garrett Hoskins - Eastern Michigan University
Week 9: Gavin Escobar - San Diego State University
Week 10: Austin Seferian-Jenkins - University of Washington
Note: The John Mackey Tight End of the Week honor will halt upon the announcement of the semi-finalist pool.
John Mackey Award Trophy
Click here for a High Resolution Image of the John Mackey Award trophy
The John Mackey Award is a proud member of the National College Football Award Association. To learn more about the NCFAA, please visit www.ncfaa.org.