Penn State TE Theo Johnson named to John Mackey Award watch list
While most of the attention was placed on the massive realignment news flowing around the Big Ten and Big 12, college football’s award season continued to roll along on Friday with the release of the watch list for this year’s John Mackey Award. The top tight end award’s watch list included Penn State’s Theo Johnson to get the season started.
This is the second year in a row Johnson has been named to the Mackey award watch list. Johnson is coming off a 2022 season with 20 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games played. Johnson has 43 career receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns during his three years at Penn State. He is expected to be Penn State’s top tight end option this season following the departure of Brenton Strange to the NFL.
The John Mackey Award was first presented in 2000 to Purdue’s Tim Stratton. Penn State does not have a Mackey Award winner, and Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson was the last Big Ten player to take home the award in 2018. Five Big Ten players have won the award.
Last year’s Mackey Award winner was Brock Bowers of Georgia. Other notable winners of the award include Kyle Pitts of Florida (2020), Kellen Winslow II of Miami (2003), and Dallas Clark of Iowa (2002).
You can view the full watch list for the John Mackey Award in the official press release from the award’s official website.
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